Somersault (2004)

"Somersault" (2004) is a coming-of-age drama that follows Australian teenager Heidi, played with raw vulnerability by Abbie Cornish, as she flees her troubled home life after a compromising encounter with her mother's boyfriend. With limited options, Heidi finds herself in the small tourist town of Jindabyne, where she desperately seeks stability and connection. She finds herself drawn to Joe, a local man grappling with his own emotional complexities, and attempts to build a relationship with him, hoping to create the normal life she craves. While Heidi manages to secure a job and a place to stay, her relationship with Joe faces significant obstacles, forcing her to confront the harsh realities of growing up and the challenges of finding genuine connection. "Somersault" undeniably earns its place among the best of Cate Shortland's filmography. This debut feature showcases Shortland's signature style: an intimate and unflinching exploration of female interiority, rendered with exquisite visual poetry. The film's hauntingly beautiful cinematography captures the stark Australian landscape and mirrors Heidi's own emotional isolation. More importantly, Shortland elicits incredibly nuanced performances, particularly from Cornish, who embodies Heidi's vulnerability and resilience with remarkable depth. "Somersault" established Shortland as a director with a keen eye for subtle storytelling and a profound understanding of the complexities of female experience, making it a crucial and formative work in her career.