52 TUESDAYS (movie)

16 year old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans to gender transition and their time together becomes limited to Tuesday afternoons.

A remarkable film that explores some very significant issues about sexual identity, parent-child relationships, coming of age, friendship, and the power of love. Tilda Cobham-Hervey, who plays Billie, is stunning in her first role as is all the cast. The story, which was actually filmed on 52 Tuesdays over one year, is told with that structure. Each Tuesday is introduced by brief clips of significant world events on that day and then we see how the characters (mostly Billie’s) develop over the year and the way in which they meet their emotional challenges brought about by Billie’s mother’s decision to transition from male to female. It’s a moving, profound portrait that avoids sensationalism. It’s already beginning to attract awards including winning the Directing Award at Sundance; and winner of the Reader Jury of the “Siegessäule” and the Crystal Bear for the best film in the Generation 14plus category at the Berlin Film Festival this year. Keep an eye out for this one. It’s going to go places so make sure you catch it if you can. And it’s made right here in South Australia! A great achievement.

overall=**** ; acting=****1/2 ; story=*** ; cinematography= ***1/2; directing=****