Torquil Neilson Movies

Danny (Noah Taylor) is a young man seemingly used to chaos, but he soon discovers that the fates are more than capable of dishing out more than he can handle in this offbeat Australian comedy. By his own count, thirtyish Danny has found himself sharing living quarters with one or more friends more than four dozen times in the past; one might imagine this would make him immune to roommate problems, but that soon proves not to be the case. While sharing a house in Brisbane with a handful of sloppy guys -- and one woman, Sam (Emily Hamilton), who ought to know better -- Danny finds himself obsessing over his most recent relationship, which crashed and burned six months before. The arrival of Anya (Romane Bohringer) picks up Danny's spirits, until he discovers she's dating Sam; this sets off his impulsive instincts, and too much spending (and too much damage to his rented house) forces Danny to high-tail it to Melbourne. Sam soon follows, smarting from a break-up with Anya, and she ends up sharing a flat with Danny. Danny's money management skills have not improved a bit, and he is soon on the run to Sydney, where he and Sam find themselves crashing with Nina (Sophie Lee), an actress with an eating disorder, and her gay friend Dirk (Francis McMahon). Just as Danny and Sam seem to be getting settled, Anya arrives, looking to reconcile with Sam; things get complicated for Danny, and he ends up moving in with Flip (Brett Stewart), an old friend with a severe drug problem. He Died With A Felafel In His Hand was adapted from the popular novel by Australian author John Birmingham. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Nadia Tass directed this Australian comedy-drama about deaf-mute Amy (nine-year-old singer-recording artist Alana De Roma), traumatized by seeing her rock-star father Will (Nick Barker) killed in an electrical accident at an outdoor concert during a rainstorm. His widow Tanya (Rachel Griffiths) retreats with Amy to an outback farm, but child welfare officers force a return to Melbourne for Amy's education. They move into a shabby house in a working-class neighborhood of losers where they meet musician Robert (Ben Mendelsohn), battered neighbor Sarah Armstrong (Kerry Armstrong) and her son Zac (Jeremy Trigatti), Zac's alcoholic father Bill Trendle (William Zappa), two slow-witted brothers (Torquil Neilson, Sullivan Stapleton), grouchy Mrs. Mullins (Mary Ward), and Robert's sister (Susie Porter). Amy was shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide