Rated: PG
Directed by: Robert Connolly
Written by: Robert Connolly
Based on the Book Blueback by: Tim Winton
Additional Writing: Tim Winton
Composer: Nigel Westlake
Produced by: Liz Kerney, James Grandison and Robert Connolly
Executive Producers: Andrew Myer, Robert Patterson, Eric Bana, Joel Pearlman, Joanna Baevski, Ricci Swart, Lorraine Tarabay, Nicolas Langley, Hayley Ballie, James Baillie, Michele Turnure-Salleo, Arthur Humphrey
Starring: Mia Wasikowsk, Radha Mitchell, Ilsa Fogg, Liz Alexander, Ariel Donoghue, Clarence Ryan, Pedrea Jackson, Eric Thomson, Eddie Baroo and Eric Bana.
‘I’ll keep him safe forever.’
Abby grew up in the water. She lived on the coast with her mother who fought every day to save Longboat Bay (filmed on the coast of Western Australia, Bremer Bay) from overfishing, dredging, destruction.
We’re introduced to the underwater world with a classical soundtrack (Nigel Westlake), the world of light through the blue water reflecting off a school of fish swimming, a stingray, a turtle. It’s majestic.
But with the discovery of bleached coral and Dora (young mother, Dora played by Radha Mitchell) chaining herself to bulldozers in protest, I thought I was heading into the doom and gloom of a bleak conservationist movie. So that underwater world took on a sinister aspect.
It’s a slow start.
Based the Tim Winton book, Blueback, there’s the classic Aussie way of life that threads the story of Blueback together: the school drop-off, the lovable Aussie larrikin Mad Macca (Eric Bana).
The coast, the water, the beach, the marine life is such a large part of being Australian there’s a reason we want to keep it, to protect it.
To give the marine life focus, Abby (teenage Abby played by, Ilsa Fogg) discovers a huge Blue Groper she names, Blueback.
He’s old and wise but he comes out of his underwater cave to play because he feels safe with her. And Abby will do anything to protect Blueback.
See below for more information about the beautiful and fascinating Blue Groper.
Fish in focus – Western Blue Groper | Western Australian Museum
The film evolves with flashbacks to Abby’s childhood (Ariel Donoghue as young Abby), growing up to a teenager with her mum. Born to be in the water, Abby becomes a professor (Mia Wasikowska as adult Abby) of marine biology, to continue to protect the wildlife she loves. Like Blueback.
‘Your home is dying, and I don’t know how to help.’
But there’s more to the tale than the message of how important it is to save our oceans, the story’s also about growing up, about home and what it means to be born with the ocean in your blood.
I couldn’t help but become attached to the life on the screen.
I admit to getting teary. In a good way.
Yes, it took a while to get into the story but there’s a difference here because instead of a bleak climate change message, I left the cinema feeling good. Feeling, hopeful. And we all need a bit of hope these days.