Before 52 Tuesdays, Adelaide filmmaking collective Closer Productions were best known for its acclaimed documentaries Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure and Life in Movement. The latter was co-directed by Sophie Hyde, who helms Closer’s first feature-length drama, 52 Tuesdays, which won awards at the Sundance and Berlin film festivals, and is an extraordinary achievement from Hyde, co-writer Matthew Cormack (with Hyde) and the mostly amateur cast.
Much has been made of Tuesdays’ documentary-like production structure, which involved shooting on every Tuesday for a year. While this may seem like a gimmick, it adds incredible realism to a story that is fundamentally about change. Billie (a spellbinding Tilda Cobham-Hervey)is a 16-year-old who discovers her mother (Del Herbert-Jane) is to become a man, James.
Billie is sent to live with her dad (Beau Travis Williams) while James undergoes this transformation, but Billie and James make a deal to meet every Tuesday from 4pm to 10pm. While this is happening, Billie is in the midst of a sexual awakening herself, experimenting with two new friends.
While James’ transformation is what initially grabs you, his story takes a back seat to Billie’s growth from mildly irritating brat to complex adult. Superbly handled by Hyde, 52 Tuesdays is never heavy-handed and features more humour than you’d expect. It’s a brave film and local triumph that deserves all accolades since premiering at the Adelaide Film Festival last year.
52 Tuesdays (MA) is in cinemas now
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