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The Year My Voice Broke

From Alfawiki
The Year My Voice Broke
Company typeFilm
IndustryFilm industry
Founded1987
FounderJohn Duigan (director and writer)
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsComing-of-age drama film

The Year My Voice Broke is a 1987 Australian coming-of-age drama directed and written by John Duigan, featuring performances by Noah Taylor, Loene Carmen, and Ben Mendelsohn. Set in 1962 within the rural Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales, this film was planned as the initial installment of a trilogy inspired by Duigan's own childhood. Narrated by the main character Danny, it delves into the changing dynamics between him and his closest friend Freya over the course of a year. Although the full trilogy was never realized, it was succeeded by the 1991 sequel, Flirting. Both entries received the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film in their respective years.

Plot

In the 1962 countryside of New South Wales, 15-year-old Danny is an introverted boy who has been friends with Freya, an adopted girl often subjected to gossip regarding her background. The pair spend time at their childhood refuge experimenting with telepathy and hypnosis.

Danny develops romantic feelings for Freya, who in turn becomes interested in Trevor, a local rugby league player with a reputation for minor criminal activity who also assists Danny in dealing with bullies. The three discover an abandoned house believed to be haunted. One night there, Trevor and Freya become physically involved while Danny feigns sleep. Subsequently, Trevor steals a car for a joyride, is apprehended, and placed in juvenile detention. During his absence, Freya confides her pregnancy to Danny. He offers marriage and to take responsibility for the child, but she declines.

Curious about Freya’s origins after finding a locket inscribed "SEA," Danny uncovers its connection to Sara Elizabeth Amery—Freya’s biological mother who died shortly after giving birth at the abandoned house. Trevor escapes from detention, commits an armed robbery injuring a shopkeeper, then returns to reunite with Freya. Police pursue Trevor; he dies in a car crash during the chase.

Freya vanishes, suffers a miscarriage and hypothermia until Danny discovers her and brings her to hospital. He reveals her mother’s identity, which leads Freya to leave for the city due to social stigma. At the train station, Danny gives her his savings and vows to keep in contact. The adult Danny later reflects on never seeing Freya again as he carves their names into a rock at their cherished spot.

Cast

Production

Inspired by his experiences attending boarding school during the mid-1960s, John Duigan penned the screenplay. After encountering difficulties securing funding for his project, he developed a prequel titled The Year My Voice Broke, focusing on the protagonist’s adolescence in a rural town. Duigan partnered with Kennedy Miller to produce this film as one of four telemovies commissioned by Channel Ten, granted permission to shoot on 35 mm film stock. Filming occurred in Braidwood, New South Wales, although the story’s setting is different. Throughout production, the project had several working titles such as Reflections of a Golden Childhood and Museum of Desire.

Music

The central musical theme of the movie is Ralph Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending," selected by Duigan to symbolize Danny's youthful longing. The soundtrack also features several era-specific tracks, such as:

  • "Apache" performed by The Shadows
  • "Corinna Corinna" by Ray Peterson
  • "Temptation" as sung by The Everly Brothers
  • Gene McDaniels' "Tower of Strength" and "A Hundred Pounds of Clay"
  • Paul Anka's "Diana"
  • "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" by Gene Pitney
  • "Get a Little Dirt on Your Hands" by The Delltones
  • Frank Ifield's rendition of "I Remember You"
  • Lesley Gore's "That's the Way Boys Are"

Except for Lesley Gore’s track, which debuted in 1964, all songs correspond to the film’s historical period.

Box office

In Australia, The Year My Voice Broke earned $1,513,000, which translates to approximately $3,041,130 when adjusted to 2009 currency values. Its U.S. box office revenue was $213,901. Although some contested that it was a television film, it qualified for the AFI Awards after director Duigan demonstrated that it was filmed on 35 mm and intended as a theatrical release. The film secured five AFI Awards, leading to its acquisition by Hoyts for cinema distribution.

Critical reception

Hal Hinson of The Washington Post lauded the film as a more intense and complex coming-of-age story, emphasizing Duigan’s ability to depict adolescent feelings authentically without patronizing. Caryn James from The New York Times characterized it as an agreeable and straightforward film, highlighting its skilled performances despite familiar subject matter.

In 2015, Luke Buckmaster from The Guardian praised the movie for steering clear of clichés despite featuring typical elements like bullying and sexual discovery. He attributed much of its impact to the standout early-career performances delivered by the three principal actors. Suzie Gibson observed that The Year My Voice Broke is uncommon in Australian cinema for balancing focus equally between male and female characters, with Freya representing one of the most intricately portrayed female roles in the national film landscape.

Accolades

Award Category Recipient Outcome
AACTA Awards (1987 AFI Awards) Best Film Terry Hayes, Doug Mitchell, George Miller Template:Won
Best Direction John Duigan Template:Won
Best Original Screenplay John Duigan Template:Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Ben Mendelsohn Template:Won
Members Prize Template:Won
Best Actor in a Lead Role Noah Taylor Template:Nom
Best Actress in a Lead Role Loene Carmen Template:Nom
Best Achievement in Editing Neil Thumpston Template:Nom
AWGIE Awards Feature Film John Duigan Template:Won
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor - Male Noah Taylor Template:Won

Home media

In the United States, the movie first appeared on VHS in 1988 through International Video Entertainment. A special-edition DVD commemorating its 21st anniversary was released in December 2008, including an introduction by George Miller and a 50-minute retrospective featuring interviews with Loene Carmen, Ben Mendelsohn, and Noah Taylor.

In 2015, Lionsgate Films, the successor to International Video Entertainment, reissued the film digitally.

External links

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