Breath (2017 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Simon Baker, Mark Johnson, Jamie Hilton (producers) |
| Products | Film |
Breath is a 2017 Australian sports drama film adapted from the novel bearing the same title by Tim Winton. The movie was directed by Simon Baker, who collaborated with Winton and Gerard Lee on the screenplay. Baker also takes a leading role in the cast, which includes Elizabeth Debicki, Samson Coulter, Ben Spence, and Richard Roxburgh.
The film made its debut at both the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2017 Zurich Film Festival. It was subsequently released in Australia on 3 May 2018 through Roadshow Films, followed by a United States release on 1 June 2018 via FilmRise. The production earned a total box office of $3.2 million.
Plot
Set during the 1970s, the story follows two adolescent surfers, Pikelet and Loonie, from a small community who develop a connection with an older surfer named Sando. He encourages them to embrace increasingly daring and hazardous challenges.
Cast
- Simon Baker as Sando
- Elizabeth Debicki as Eva
- Samson Coulter as Pikelet
- Ben Spence as Loonie
- Richard Roxburgh as Mr Pike
- Rachael Blake as Mrs Pike
- Jacek Koman as Karl Loon
Production
This project represents Simon Baker’s first venture as a feature film director; he also starred in and produced the film alongside Mark Johnson and Australian producer Jamie Hilton. The book option was acquired by Johnson after his encounter with Tim Winton in the United States. Winton joined forces with Gerard Lee and Baker to co-author the screenplay. Funding was provided by various Australian arts organizations, including Screen Australia, ScreenWest, the Great Southern Development Commission, and Autumn Productions. Additionally, the Western Australian Government invested $2.3 million to showcase the region as an attractive destination for film production.
Themes
Producer Mark Johnson pointed out that the narrative explores universal concerns such as the fear of mediocrity and the quest for self-identity, while being firmly rooted in a Western Australian environment. Simon Baker stressed that Winton’s novel vividly captures the restless inquisitiveness and longing that characterize adolescence.
Filming
Principal photography was conducted in Denmark, Western Australia, located within the Great Southern region—a place deeply connected to Winton’s personal history and literary inspiration—offering genuine locations that influenced the original story.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, Breath holds an approval rating of 80% based on 50 critic reviews, averaging a score of 6.63/10. The critical consensus describes it as a coming-of-age drama that delivers surprising emotional depth. Metacritic assigns it a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 from 14 critics, indicating generally positive feedback.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards (8th) |
Best Film | Jamie Hilton | Template:Nom |
| Mark Johnson | Template:Nom | ||
| Simon Baker | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Direction | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Template:Nom | ||
| Gerard Lee | Template:Nom | ||
| Tim Winton | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Simon Baker | Template:Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Elizabeth Debicki | Template:Nom | |
| Best Cinematography | Marden Dean | Template:Nom | |
| Rick Rifici | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Editing | Dany Cooper | Template:Nom | |
| Best Sound | Jed Dodge | Template:Won | |
| Trevor Hope | Template:Won | ||
| Mackenzie | Template:Won | ||
| Tara Webb | Template:Won |