Teesh and Trude
Encyclopedia
Teesh and Trude is an Australia
n drama directed by Melanie Rodriga, and was adapted from an original stage-play by Wilson McCaskill. The film was produced and shot entirely in Western Australia
with Production Investment Funding Support from ScreenWest
and Lotterywest
. It was shot on video at Murdoch University
where New Zealand director Melanie Rodriga teaches (Rodrgia previously made a couple of New Zealand films in the 1980s, Trial Run and Send A Gorilla).
The film received three nominations at the Australian Film Institute Awards
in 2003 and one at the Film Critics Circle of Australia
Awards.
Trude is also having problems with her macho boyfriend Rod (Peter Phelps), who must complete a major paving contract at the shopping mall to save his ailing construction company. Meanwhile, Trude pines after her own children, who are apparently living with their father in a different state.
Urban Cinefile said that "This may not be the worst local film of the year, but at 93 minutes it still seems to last forever."
David Stratton said "The film was obviously produced on the most minimal budget, and its theatrical origins are very obvious, but, despite these limitations, the film impresses because of the excellent acting."
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n drama directed by Melanie Rodriga, and was adapted from an original stage-play by Wilson McCaskill. The film was produced and shot entirely in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
with Production Investment Funding Support from ScreenWest
ScreenWest
ScreenWest ScreenWest is Western Australia's screen funding and development agency, committed to working in partnership with the screen industry to develop, support and promote film, television and digital media production in Western Australia. ScreenWest receives funding from the Government of...
and Lotterywest
Lotterywest
Lotterywest, formerly the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia, is an Australian lotteries corporation run by the State Government of Western Australia. Lotterywest sells lottery tickets and "instant win" scratchcards through a network of newsagents and other authorised retailers...
. It was shot on video at Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
where New Zealand director Melanie Rodriga teaches (Rodrgia previously made a couple of New Zealand films in the 1980s, Trial Run and Send A Gorilla).
The film received three nominations at the Australian Film Institute Awards
Australian Film Institute Awards
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...
in 2003 and one at the Film Critics Circle of Australia
Film Critics Circle of Australia
The Film Critics Circle of Australia is a group of cinema critics that judge Australian films.-External links:**...
Awards.
Plot
Teesh (Susie Porter), an unemployed single mother in her twenties, shares a flat with an older, divorced friend, Trude (Linda Cropper). Teesh is starting to crack under the strain of taking care of her son Kenny (Mason Richardson) and her problems only get worse when her abusive father (Bill McClusky), who’s just been released from prison, visits.Trude is also having problems with her macho boyfriend Rod (Peter Phelps), who must complete a major paving contract at the shopping mall to save his ailing construction company. Meanwhile, Trude pines after her own children, who are apparently living with their father in a different state.
Cast
- Susie PorterSusie PorterSusie Porter is a multiple award winning Australian television and film actress.-Television:Susie Porter began her acting career in one episode of House Gang, a short lived television program. She then had small roles in other Australian television programs in the late 1990s, including Big Sky,...
as Letitia (Teesh) - Linda CropperLinda CropperLinda Cropper is an Australian television actress.Her credits include the lead role in Melba as well as roles in Palace of Dreams , an ABC mini-series, Edens Lost, Ring of Scorpio, Bordertown, Wildside, Water Rats, All Saints, White Collar Blue and The Pacific, and more recently she has starred in...
as Trudy (Trude) - Jacob Allan as Les
- Peter PhelpsPeter PhelpsPeter Phelps is an Australian actor, singer and writer. He is notable for his role of Peter Church in the television drama, Stingers and Trevor Cole, in Baywatch...
as Rod - Bill McClusky as Bob
- Mason Richardson as Kenny
- Igor Sas as Gary
- Kazimir Sas as Craig
- Francoise Sas as Lelia
- Adam Crouch as Wes
Critical reception
The Age said, "Not since Mallboy has there been a local drama as depressing as this." It went on to say, "It isn't Ken Loach or Mike Leigh but it's in that ambit and the acting is very gritty."Urban Cinefile said that "This may not be the worst local film of the year, but at 93 minutes it still seems to last forever."
David Stratton said "The film was obviously produced on the most minimal budget, and its theatrical origins are very obvious, but, despite these limitations, the film impresses because of the excellent acting."
External links
- Teesh and Trude @ Screen AustraliaScreen AustraliaScreen Australia is the Federal Government’s key funding body for the Australian screen production industry. Its functions are to support and promote the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable industry....
(formerly Australian Film CommissionAustralian Film CommissionThe Australian Film Commission was an Australian government agency with a mandate to promote the creation and distribution of films in Australia as well as to preserve the country's film history. It also had a production arm responsible for production and commissioning of films for government...
)