This 1987 film written and directed by John Duigan and starring the ingenious Noah Taylor is a undiscovered gem. Set in 1952 in rural Australia the story centers around Danny Embling, a likeable and thoughtful boy outcast by his peers. He is in love with his best friend Freyia,and it is their turbulent relationship that is the heart of the story. When Freyia falls in love with Trevor, a hyper-active and troubled boy, the three struggle with their emerging feelings and the life altering decisions that they must make. Certainly, we've seen this all before but not like this. Never in my life have I seen such an honest portrayal of youth. The dialogue is not filled with ridiculous pop culture references or complex vocabulary but that is the charm. These people talk just like us. The story is never contrived and the acting is completely natural. Although all the performances are commendable,none so much as Noah Taylor's heartfelt portrayal of our bumbling hero. This is his first major film role and he floats through it naturally. His acting is subtle yet varied and he is one of the greatest undiscovered actors of our time. This is a wonderful film that everyone, art film buff to action fan,from 14 to 94 should see for the sweet story and natural performances especially from the wonderful Noah Taylor.
