SWIMMING UPSTREAM is a brilliantly acted, deeply involving and ultimately uplifting film from Australia that deserves major audience exposure. Based on a true story of one of Australia's many championship athletes, this story is not merely another biopic (although it was autobiographically written by Anthony Fingleton, the subject of the film): this is a story about large families of poverty, about the tragedies that befall families husbanded by an alcoholic abusive father, and about the ultimate triumph of the individual soul rising out of such conditions.
Harold Fingleton (Geoffrey Rush) is a drunk, a blue collar worker who has sired five children by a strong but enabling wife Dora (Judy Davis), a man whose focus on sports finds a possible escape from his joblessness when he discovers that his two middle sons Tony (Jesse Spencer) and the younger John (Tim Draxl) are able swimmers. For reasons unclear Harold focuses on John and while he relentlessly coaches both of the boys at the town pool every day, he decides John is going to be the champion swimmer in Australia. Tony excels in the backstroke and eventually surpasses his beloved brother John's times and proceeds to win the honors Harold expected of John.
Throughout this tale of competition in swimming we are privy to the competition within the home. Harold, Jr (David Hoflin) is initially the bully yet gradually succumbs to his father's alcoholic lifestyle. Dora is beaten and abused yet is always there for her children, eking out a living and soothing the flare-up tantrums during Harold's drunken states. Tony and John cycle through periods of mutual adulation and the alternative fierce competition into which they are thrown by their father: their evolving bond is unforgettably touching. When Tony at last reaches the peak of his swimming potential, winning medals and applause form his countrymen, he still tries to grasp the love of a father whose is so consumed by his own demons that he is unable to acknowledge Tony's success. Tony's eventual choice of leaving Australia for either the Olympics or for a scholarship to Harvard in the USA provides some of the most touching moments between the various members of this long-suffering family.
The direction by Russell Mulcahy is keenly paced, making excellent use of flashbacks to the significant moments in the family's history, and electing to use the split screen technique to underline the tension of the swimming meets while focusing on the faces of the family. As Tony, Jesse Spencer is both wonderful to watch (he does his own swimming and he is a perfect physical specimen!) and reveals acting gifts that are usually those of more seasoned performers. Indeed, Rush, Davis and Draxl also give spellbinding performances that are born of nuance and understatement. In a family where there could be polarization of response from the audience, each of the actors is so fine that we are able to find the complete personas of these disparate people and find warmth and understanding for all of them.
One wonders why this film was not heralded in the theatrical release, as it is one of the finer movies to come out in years. Both Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis give outstanding, award deserving performances. The DVD includes all of the 'deleted scenes' and it is highly recommended to view these important inexplicably cut moments as they truly enhance the film. Very Highly Recommended! Grady Harp
Harold Fingleton (Geoffrey Rush) is a drunk, a blue collar worker who has sired five children by a strong but enabling wife Dora (Judy Davis), a man whose focus on sports finds a possible escape from his joblessness when he discovers that his two middle sons Tony (Jesse Spencer) and the younger John (Tim Draxl) are able swimmers. For reasons unclear Harold focuses on John and while he relentlessly coaches both of the boys at the town pool every day, he decides John is going to be the champion swimmer in Australia. Tony excels in the backstroke and eventually surpasses his beloved brother John's times and proceeds to win the honors Harold expected of John.
Throughout this tale of competition in swimming we are privy to the competition within the home. Harold, Jr (David Hoflin) is initially the bully yet gradually succumbs to his father's alcoholic lifestyle. Dora is beaten and abused yet is always there for her children, eking out a living and soothing the flare-up tantrums during Harold's drunken states. Tony and John cycle through periods of mutual adulation and the alternative fierce competition into which they are thrown by their father: their evolving bond is unforgettably touching. When Tony at last reaches the peak of his swimming potential, winning medals and applause form his countrymen, he still tries to grasp the love of a father whose is so consumed by his own demons that he is unable to acknowledge Tony's success. Tony's eventual choice of leaving Australia for either the Olympics or for a scholarship to Harvard in the USA provides some of the most touching moments between the various members of this long-suffering family.
The direction by Russell Mulcahy is keenly paced, making excellent use of flashbacks to the significant moments in the family's history, and electing to use the split screen technique to underline the tension of the swimming meets while focusing on the faces of the family. As Tony, Jesse Spencer is both wonderful to watch (he does his own swimming and he is a perfect physical specimen!) and reveals acting gifts that are usually those of more seasoned performers. Indeed, Rush, Davis and Draxl also give spellbinding performances that are born of nuance and understatement. In a family where there could be polarization of response from the audience, each of the actors is so fine that we are able to find the complete personas of these disparate people and find warmth and understanding for all of them.
One wonders why this film was not heralded in the theatrical release, as it is one of the finer movies to come out in years. Both Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis give outstanding, award deserving performances. The DVD includes all of the 'deleted scenes' and it is highly recommended to view these important inexplicably cut moments as they truly enhance the film. Very Highly Recommended! Grady Harp