Somersault
The brief
Cate Shortland's debut feels like watching someone's life fall apart in slow motion, but with this gorgeous, dreamy cinematography that makes even the most painful moments look beautiful. Abbie Cornish is absolutely fearless as Heidi, a teenager whose bad choices keep spiraling into worse ones, and she makes you root for someone who's honestly pretty messy and self-destructive. The pacing is deliberately languid, letting you sink into the small-town atmosphere and really feel the weight of Heidi's isolation. This is for people who love character studies like Fish Tank or if you want to see what made Shortland such a compelling filmmaker before she directed Black Widow.
The verdict
If you love slow-burn character studies with stunning cinematography and appreciate watching a fearless performance from Abbie Cornish, this is an excellent showcase of why Cate Shortland became such a respected filmmaker. If you need clear plot momentum or get frustrated watching deeply flawed characters make increasingly poor decisions, you'll find this deliberately paced drama more exhausting than rewarding.
Watch with
- 👤 Solo viewing for introspective mood
- ⚠️ Skip with family due to mature themes
Heads up
- Sexual content and nudity (moderate)
- Underage drinking and substance use (moderate)
- Emotional abuse and manipulation (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Cate Shortland
- Cast
- Abbie Cornish, Sam Worthington, Lynette Curran, Erik Thomson, Nathaniel Dean, Diana Glenn, Olivia Pigeot
Official synopsis
Australian teenager Heidi is left with little choice but to leave home after she's caught red-handed with her
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both explore fractured protagonists seeking connection while struggling with isolation.
Total runtime: 1h 45m + 1h 29m = 3h 14m
