Here I Am (2011 film)

Here I Am
Directed by	Beck Cole
Written by	Beck Cole
Produced by	Kath Shelper
Starring	Shai Pittman
Cinematography	Warwick Thornton
Edited by	Roland Gallois
Music by	Cliff Bradley
Production company	Scarlett Pictures
Distributed by	Madman, Footprint Films, Transmission Films
Release date	26 February 2011 (2011-02-26)
Running time	90 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English

Here I Am is a 2011 Australian drama film written and directed by Beck Cole.

Plot

The film tells the story of a young Aboriginal woman who has been recently released from prison, and wishes to turn her life around.^[1] She finds her way to a women's refuge, where she meets a number of other Aboriginal women, all escaping problems, who provide support^[2] as she tries to reconnect with her family, including her estranged mother, Lois, and her child, Rosie^[3] who is in the care of her grandmother.^[2]

Cast

The cast includes:^[2][4]

• Shai Pittman as Karen Burden
• Bruce Carter as Jeff
• Quinaiha Scott as Rosie
• Pauline Whyman as Skinny
• Marcia Langton as Lois, Karen's estranged mother
• Vanessa Worrall
• Betty Sumner
• Tanith Glynn-Maloney
• Carol Collins

Production

Here I Am, a drama,^[5] is Beck Cole's debut feature film^[6] as writer/director,^[1] and Shai Pittman's first acting role. The film was shot around Port Adelaide, with some scenes in Adelaide Women's Prison and almost all of the characters are Aboriginal Australians.^[7]

Warwick Thornton, former partner of Cole, was cinematographer,^[8] while Roland Gallois did the editing.^[2] The production company was Scarlett Pictures, with the main producer being Kath Shelper.^[4]

The music is by Cliff Bradley, with additional songs by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, PJ Harvey and others.^[7][2][3]

Release

The film premiered at the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival on 26 February 2011,^[7] where it received a standing ovation by the audience.^[6] It was afterwards distributed by Madman, Footprint Films, and Transmission Films,^[7] shown in Australian cinemas from 2 June 2011.^[9]

It was shown on ABC Television on 8 December 2011^[9] and later shown on SBS Television's streaming service.^[3]

Accolades

• Screened in competition at the Montréal World Film Festival.^[10]
• Nominated, International Feature award at the Adelaide Film Festival^[11]
• Winner, Best Dramatic Feature, ImagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival^[12]

References

1. Groves, Don (21 May 2019). "Writer-director Beck Cole moves between two worlds". IF Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
2. Hatherley, Frank (1 March 2011). "Here I Am". Screen Daily. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
3. Williams, Fiona (1 June 2011). "Here I Am review: True grit, Australian-style". SBS Movies. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
4. "Here I Am (2011): Principal credits". Australian Screen. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
5. Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 64. ISBN 978-1908215017.
6. "Standing ovation for Beck Cole's Here I Am". Mumbrella. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
7. Korff, Jens (21 December 2018). "Here I Am (Film)". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
8. Maddox, Garry (4 January 2018). "Director Warwick Thornton's film Sweet Country is a bold new take on the Western". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
9. "Here I Am (2011): Curator's notes". Australian Screen. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
10. "Montréal World Film Festival 2011". MUBI. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
11. "Adelaide Film Festival: Awards". Screen Australia. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
12. "Beck Cole and Liz Hughes – Thursday 22 October 2020". National Institute of Dramatic Art. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.

External links

• Here I Am at IMDb