| Here I Am | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Beck Cole |
| Written by | Beck Cole |
| Produced by | Kath Shelper |
| Starring | Shai Pittman |
| Cinematography | Warwick Thornton |
| Edited by | Roland Gallois |
| Music by | Cliff Bradley |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Madman, Footprint Films, Transmission Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
Here I Am is a 2011 Australian drama film written and directed by Beck Cole.
Plot
The film tells the story of a young Aboriginal woman who has been recently released from prison, and wishes to turn her life around. [1] She finds her way to a women's refuge, where she meets a number of other Aboriginal women, all escaping problems, who provide support [2] as she tries to reconnect with her family, including her estranged mother, Lois, and her child, Rosie [3] who is in the care of her grandmother. [2]
Cast
- Shai Pittman as Karen Burden
- Bruce Carter as Jeff
- Quinaiha Scott as Rosie
- Pauline Whyman as Skinny
- Marcia Langton as Lois, Karen's estranged mother
- Vanessa Worrall
- Betty Sumner
- Tanith Glynn-Maloney
- Carol Collins
Production
Here I Am, a drama, [5] is Beck Cole's debut feature film [6] as writer/director, [1] and Shai Pittman's first acting role. The film was shot around Port Adelaide, with some scenes in Adelaide Women's Prison and almost all of the characters are Aboriginal Australians. [7]
Warwick Thornton, former partner of Cole, was cinematographer, [8] while Roland Gallois did the editing. [2] The production company was Scarlett Pictures, with the main producer being Kath Shelper. [4]
The music is by Cliff Bradley, with additional songs by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, PJ Harvey and others. [7] [2] [3]
Release
The film premiered at the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival on 26 February 2011, [7] where it received a standing ovation by the audience. [6] It was afterwards distributed by Madman, Footprint Films, and Transmission Films, [7] shown in Australian cinemas from 2 June 2011. [9]
It was shown on ABC Television on 8 December 2011 [9] and later shown on SBS Television's streaming service. [3]
Accolades
- Screened in competition at the Montréal World Film Festival. [10]
- Nominated, International Feature award at the Adelaide Film Festival [11]
- Winner, Best Dramatic Feature, ImagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival [12]
References
- ^ a b Groves, Don (21 May 2019). "Writer-director Beck Cole moves between two worlds". IF Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Hatherley, Frank (1 March 2011). "Here I Am". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Williams, Fiona (1 June 2011). "Here I Am review: True grit, Australian-style". SBS Movies. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Here I Am (2011): Principal credits". Australian Screen. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 64. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- ^ a b "Standing ovation for Beck Cole's Here I Am". Mumbrella. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d Korff, Jens (21 December 2018). "Here I Am (Film)". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ Maddox, Garry (4 January 2018). "Director Warwick Thornton's film Sweet Country is a bold new take on the Western". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Here I Am (2011): Curator's notes". Australian Screen. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Montréal World Film Festival 2011". MUBI. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Adelaide Film Festival: Awards". Screen Australia. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Beck Cole and Liz Hughes – Thursday 22 October 2020". National Institute of Dramatic Art. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
