Milla Finlay is turning sixteen and enjoys life to the full – something her parents cannot share with her, as Milla is suffering from cancer in an advanced stage. Is her new boyfriend, drugs dealer Moses, the best match at this point in her life? In silence, her parents mainly mourn the prospect of losing their daughter in the prime of life. This leads to them abandoning all pedagogic strategies.
In her film debut, Australian director Shannon Murphy strikes a great balance between comedy and tragedy. Babyteeth is a tearjerker of the kind that reminds us of the beautiful things in life. Murphy deliberately seeks out conflicting emotions in this layered drama. Using images, sound and text, she subtly breaks through the ‘fourth wall’, confronting the audience with the ephemerality of her engaging protagonist.
Film details
Productieland
Australia
Jaar
2019
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2020
Lengte
120'
Medium/Formaat
DCP
Taal
English
Première status
None
Director
Shannon Murphy
Cinematography
Andrew Commis
Principal cast
Ben Mendelsohn, Essie Davis, Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Emily Barclay, Andrea Demetriades, Charles Grounds