The Caterpillar Wish (also known as Caterpillar Wish) is a 2006 Australian coming-of-age film, directed by Sandra Sciberras and produced by Kate Whitbread. The film stars an ensemble cast including Victoria Thaine, Susie Porter, and Philip Quast. It was filmed in and around Robe, South Australia. The Caterpillar Wish was released in Australia on 15 June 2006.

The Caterpillar Wish
Directed bySandra Sciberras
Written bySandra Sciberras
Produced byKate Whitbread
StarringVictoria Thaine
Susie Porter
Philip Quast
CinematographyGreig Fraser
Edited byJason Ballantine
Music byBurkhard von Dallwitz (as Burkhard Dallwitz)
Distributed byPalace Films
Release date
  • 15 June 2006 (2006-06-15)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$1,400,000
Box officeA$456,018 (Australia)[1]

Plot

edit

Emily is a seventeen-year-old schoolgirl who lives with her mother Susan. Emily never knew her father. According to her mother, he was a "tom cat"—a tourist who wandered into town one summer and was never seen again.[2]

Susan is struggling to forget the past. She hasn't spoken to her fervently religious parents for years, not since she shamed the family by falling pregnant at fifteen.

Emily actively pursues a friendship with father-figure Stephen, who spends his days fixing boats at the harbour. But Stephen has his own troubles, constantly haunted by the past, unable to keep the loss of his wife and baby daughter from his thoughts.

Stephen's sister Elizabeth is married to the town policeman Carl. Elizabeth suspects Carl is being unfaithful but is scared to uncover the truth. Her son Joel has a secret love of his own.

When a Bible turns up with an intriguing inscription, Emily is the first to realise that hoping for change is not enough.

Cast

edit
Actor Role
Victoria Thaine Emily Woodbrige
Susie Porter Susan Woodbrige
Philip Quast Carl Roberts
Wendy Hughes Elizabeth Roberts
Khan Chittenden Joel Roberts
Will Traeger Ewan Roberts
Robert Mammone Stephen Knight
Nicholas Bell Father Caleb
Elspeth Ballantyne Mrs. Woodbridge (Emily's Grandmother)

Reception

edit

The Sunday Morning Herald said that "there is something enchanting about this unassuming film. You will ignore its flaws and be swept along by Thaine's delicate and touching performance."[3]

Awards

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Australian Films at the Australian Box Office", Film Victoria. Retrieved 11 November 2021 Archived 9 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Edwards, Russell (12 June 2006). "The Caterpillar Wish". Variety. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ^ Murray, Scott (21 August 2008). "The Caterpillar Wish". The Sunday Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  4. ^ "AFI | AACTA | Winners & Nominees | 2000-2010 | 2006". aacta.org. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Aboriginal comedy takes top award". The Age. 8 December 2006.
edit