When the imaginary friends of a young girl living in Australia's Lightning Ridge opal-mining town go missing, the inexplicable illness that befalls her soon prompts her brother to organize a desperate search for his sister's transparent pals in director Peter Cattaneo's adaptation of Ben Rice's popular children's novella. Kellyanne is a young girl with a vivid imagination and two invisible friends named Pobby and Dingan. Though her brother, Ashmol, was never the affectionate type, his concern at
seeing his little sister become ill after Pobby and Dingan disappear quickly sets into motion an incredible journey that will serve as a transformative rite of passage for not just Ashmol, but the whole town of Lightning Ridge as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Although Opal Dream marks a pleasing departure from the conventions of the British comedy -- it's based on a children's book and set in the Australian outback -- it's disappointingly small in scope.
With its lessons of faith, family loyalty and the power of the imagination, this is one of the rare non-animated films parents can take their children to see.
Sophisticated cine philes aren't likely to go ga-ga over this one, but Opal Dream is a worthwhile family film, graced with an ambivalent, bittersweet ending and just the right touch of cinematic poetry turning on the gemstone in its title.
In the Australian outback, in the opal mining community of Coober Pedy, Rex Williamson (Vince Colosimo) hunts maniacally for the perfect stone while his family endures a life of dust and deprivation.
While Opal Dream draws liberally on timeworn dramatic staples, it's the earnestness with which cast and crew believe in the material that keeps its dusty heart beating strong.
This is definitely a film that will polarize its audience. On the one hand, it's a pleasant (albeit non-germane) 'family' film that never rises above its indie roots. On the other hand, it's too cloying for your average viewer. It's all very similar to the superior 'Lars And The Real Girl', and even though this
technically came out first, I'd recommend that film over this one any day.The acting is relaxed and believable, with the unfortunate exception of Sapphire Boyce's 'Kellyanne', who comes off as a tad wooden and her character more than a bit manipulative, which would be forgivable were it not for Christian Byer's deft portrayal of 'Ashmol'.Direction, cinematography and screenwriting are all pedestrian at best, and with a title like 'Opal Dream', you might imagine a more colorful palette, but the dusty grey Australian outback proves to be more difficult to film than its source novella would suggest.Recommended for families who find themselves weary of Hollywood's by-the-numbers filmmaking and would like to see something a little different.
November 30, 2009
Jake Stevens
I loved this movie. It was cute and sweet in a silly sort of way.
It told me no matter what you believe, always have faith. Dream your dreams and follow your heart.
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