Sarah, a 15-year-old girl who has a hearing impairment, is entering a crisis period. Her mother, Barbara, Martin, is a divorced parent who is trying desperately to reconcile Sarah’s needs as an adolescent and as a child with a handicap with her own needs for an adult relationship. But Sarah refuses to accept Barbara’s boyfriend, Paul.
Sarah is finding her peer group at school is less sympathetic than in previous years and is finding herself the butt of jealousy and conflict. Her way of coping with these problems and her mother’s relationship is to withdraw in anger and frustration. She refuses to face the challenges and pressures of growing up and retreats into her own world.
An angry interchange between Sarah and her mother leads to Barbara’s decision to send Sarah to her grandfather’s seaside cottage for the May holidays. Through one of his family friends, Sarah meets a local group of teenagers, including David. The growing friendship between Sarah and David triggers more conflict. This time Sarah faces the problems and learns to take her place among her peer group.
The story is one of innocence and experience. Sarah emerges from the sheltered world her mother has created and accepts the trials and tribulations of a less than perfect reality. She puts aside the isolation of her deafness and learns the value of her own identity. In coming to terms with her own budding sexuality, she learns to understand the needs of her mother.
Director
Barbara Boyd-Anderson
Screenplay Rosa Colosimo
B. Boyd-Anderson
Producer
Rosa Colosimo
DOP
Kevin Anderson Editor Zbigniew Friedrich Production Design
Paddy Reardon Costume Design Frankie Hogan Production Management
Robert Kewley Assistant Director Trish Carney Art Department Kerith Holmes
Cast Nadine Garner
Lyn Semmler
Robin Cuming
Steve Bastoni
Alex Menglet
Kristy Grant
Greg Fleet
Ben Mendelsohn
Jodie Yemm
Rona McLeod
Johnny Quinn
Gerry Murtagh
Sarah Lassez
