Beautiful Kate
Drama
Country/Year: Australia/2009
Length: 102 minutes
Classification: 15
Synopsis:
Set in Australia’s mesmerising and captivatingly beautiful outback, Beautiful Kate is in essence an intense and tragic love story about the sexual awakening of three siblings growing up in isolation. Told in the parallel narratives of past and present, returning to the family home with his much younger fiancée Toni. Ned is forced to confront the realities surrounding the dramatic death of his twin sister Kate when she was 16. As memories from his youth come flooding back, it becomes apparent that their sibling intimacy had crossed over into a physical relationship, haunting him with the inescapable feelings of desire and guilt.
On the remaining days leading to Bruce’s death, a newfound tenderness grows between father and son, as feelings of anger and bitterness soon turn to forgiveness and the past that has haunted the family is finally laid to rest.
At times devastating and at times dealing with subject matters hard to swallow, Rachel Ward’s accomplished debut feature, cannot fail to get under your skin.
'Beautiful Kate is a sexually charged kitchen-sink drama that comes with powerful performances, beautiful cinematography and a soundtrack to match its heavy but hopeful mood.' Sunday Times (Australia)
'This is an extraordinary film not only for its subject matter, and its approach, but for the extraordinary qualities it demonstrates in every field. The cast are superb, the cinematography magical, the absence of morality is refreshing.' Sydney Morning Herald
'Director Rachel Ward creates an beautiful, tender and delicate story, exploring a damaged family and complex social taboos - with Ben Mendelsohn giving the best performance of his career.'
Screenwize
'A powerful tale of forbidden love, isolation and making peace with the past. Beautiful Kate is truly hypnotic.' Empire
Director: Rachel Ward
Actors: Ben Medelsohn, Rachel Griffiths, Bryan Brown
Rental: Verve Pictures
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