A sleepy seaside town, in winter.
Emily Woodbridge (Victoria Thaine), a 17-year-old girl, lives with her mother Susan (Susie Porter). Emily never knew her father. According to her mother, he was a "tom cat" - a tourist who wandered into town one summer and was never seen again.
Susan is struggling to forget the past. She hasn't spoken to her parents for years, not since she shamed the family by falling pregnant at 15.
Emily actively pursues a friendship with father-figure Stephen (Robert Mammone), who spends his days fixing boats at the harbour. But Stephen has his own troubles, constantly haunted by the past.
Stephen's sister Elizabeth (Wendy Hughes) is married to the town policeman Carl (Philip Quast). Elizabeth suspects Carl is being unfaithful but is afraid to uncover the truth. Her son Joel (Khan Chittenden) has a secret love of his own.
When a bible turns up with an intriguing inscription, Emily is the first to realise that hoping for change is not enough.
The Caterpillar Wish is about ordinary people finding the courage to believe they have the power to transform their own lives.
This winter, one wish will change everything.
Special Agent Matti
The best thing that one can say about small towns is that when one person's secret comes unravelled, everyone else's come undone, too. [Actually, the best thing that one can say about small towns is that one doesn't live in one - Director of Intelligence.] It will all end in tears before bedtime.
M (Moderate coarse language, moderate themes, moderate violence)
90 minutes (1:30 hours)
Film: 8 June 2006
