Press release from Limelight PR
Melbourne will be the backdrop for a new untitled Australian feature film, which brings director Nadia Tass and writer/producer David Parker back together again on Australian soil.
The film was formerly known as Love & Mortar.
This is the first time in 12 years that Tass and Parker have made an Australian feature, having previously brought us classics including Amy (1997), The Big Steal (1990) and Malcolm (1986).
“I am so happy to be back in my home town shooting our next movie after so many years in America. The cast is fantastic, and it’s a wonderful story which has been dear to my heart for many years. And Melbourne is the ideal town for this film”, said director Nadia Tass.
This week will see Tass begin her six week long shoot, bringing together a strong ensemble of actors including Australian ex-pat Jacinda Barrett (Last Kiss, Bridget Jones; Edge of Reason, Ladder 49), UK actor James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Match Point, Waking Ned Devine), Yvonne Strahovski (NBC’s Chuck), Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge, East of Everything), Kodi Smit-McPhee (John Hillcoat’s The Road, Romulus My Father) and introducing Tom Russell (Glendyn Ivin’s Last Ride).
The emotive family drama about loss, hope, infidelity and the bond between parent and child is co-written by Lynne Renew and David Parker, and produced by Parker, Tass and Richard Keddie (My Brother Jack, Little Fish).
Life seems idyllic for Marisa (Barrett) and her son, Jack (Russell), until a poor performance at a school soccer match ends with Jack in hospital and Marisa trying to find her husband, David (Roxburgh.) David is, in fact, in the next suburb apparently planning to leave Marisa for his current mistress, with his phone off and not a care in the world.
Jack is diagnosed with Leukemia and when David finally surfaces he learns that he is the key to Jack’s survival. If a matching bone marrow donor can’t be found on the world register, maybe there is some child of David’s out there from one of his flings? So Marisa looks back through his diaries, figures when he could have been having affairs, and goes out door knocking. Unsuspecting women face a desperate mother as Marisa searches high and low for possibilities and the full scale of David’s infidelity is revealed.
Meanwhile, Jack befriends Finn (Smit-McPhee), a young Irish boy in the next bed hit by this dreadful disease whilst travelling the world with his father, Connor (Nesbitt). While Marissa feels hopeless and angry at the situation, Connor can only be positive – creating an imaginary world for his sick son. As the clock ticks, Marissa and Jack slowly form a bond with Connor and Finn, leading them on a path to self discovery, honesty and hope.
The project will be distributed in Australia by Twentieth Century Fox. It is supported by Film Victoria, Screen Australia and the Melbourne International Film Festivals Premiere Film Fund. The film will premiere at MIFF next year before a late 2010 release.
"We are very much looking forward to being part of this very unique and prestigious project”, said Marc Wooldridge, Managing Director Twentieth Century Fox Australia. “Nadia Tass and David Parker are an incredible partnership and we can’t wait to see, and release their next great Australian movie".