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Look both ways - William McInnes, Justine Clarke, Anthony Hayes, Sarah Watt

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Disaster is everywhere.

An innovative mix of animation and live action, set over a scorchingly hot weekend, when people dealing with unexpected events find their lives intersecting. Nick (William McInnes) visits a doctor for a routine medical and is given a devastating diagnosis but has to wait until Monday for specialist advice. Meryl (Justine Clarke), returning from a funeral, has until Monday to finish her project or lose her job. Andy (Anthony Hayes) is thrown by his girlfriend's ultimatum and has to consider the news of her unplanned pregnancy. The convergence of their paths creates an intriguing picture, both intimate and universal.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film Australia train accident death drama relationship photograph painting Adelaide heat summer love pregnant sex

Persons of interest

Justine Clarke .... Meryl
William McInnes .... Nick
Anthony Hayes .... Andy Walker
Lisa Flanagan .... Anna
Andrew S Gilbert .... Phil
Daniella Farinacci .... Julia
Sacha Horler .... Linda
Maggie Dence .... Joan
Edwin Hodgeman .... Jim
Andreas Sobik .... Train driver
Sarah Watt .... Screenwriter
Sarah Watt .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Look both ways official movie site
Look both ways film production notes
Look both ways QuickTime movie trailers

Awards and film festivals:

Australian Film Institute (AFI) 2005: Won: Best original screenplay (Sarah Watt), Best supporting actor (Anthony Hayes), Best film (Bridget Ikin), Best direction (Sarah Watt); Nominated: Best lead actor (William McInnes), Best lead actress (Justine Clarke)
Bangkok International Film Festival 2006: Windows on the world
Brisbane International Film Festival 2005: Film Critic's Jury Award - Best Asia Pacific Film
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards 2005: Won: Best Film (Bridget Ikin), Best Director (Sarah Watt), Best Actor In A Lead Role (William McInnes), Best Original Screenplay (Sarah Watt), Best Editor (Denise Haratzis);Nominated: Best Actress In A Lead Role (Justine Clarke), Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Lisa Flanagan), Best Composer (Amanda Brown)
Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2005: Nominated: Best film (English language), Best Australian film, Best director (Sarah Watt)
if Awards 2005: Won: Best Direction (Sarah Watt), Best Script (Sarah Watt), Best Editing (Denise Haratzis); Nominated: Best Feature Film (Sarah Watt), Best Actress (Justine Clarke), Best Sound (Toivo Lember, Andrew Plain, Pete Smith), Best Music (Denise Haratzis, Amanda Brown)
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006: Screening
Melbourne International Film Festival 2005: Australian Showcase
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2005: Zabaltegi: Altadis New Directors Award
Toronto International Film Festival 2005: Discovery Award

Studios and distributors:

Icon Film Distribution

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

If a picture is worth a thousand words then Look both ways is worth a thousand pictures. While the story is pretty obvious - and there are more cinematic clichés than you can poke a stick at - this Little Aussie Gem™ still manages to make you feel good about the end.

For the most part this is a romance. Fortunately, it is cut, hacked and slashed to pieces then woven back together like a patchwork quilt; doubly fortunate is that the end result is much greater than the sum of its parts. This is real life: chaotic, confused, badly communicated yet full of meaning. Understanding is not handed to you on a plastic tray ("Would you like fries with that?") like Hollywood romances, it is plucked from a vine, washed, chilled, peeled and - only when you are going sour on the whole deal - popped into your waiting mouth, a sweet, juicy morsel of comprehension.

But enough with the extended metaphors, Look both ways succeeds in what Me and you and everyone we know attempted. Bold statements intercepted by multimedia presentations, informed by human tragedy.

And you get to see William McInnes in a pair of jocks. What more could you ask for?