Based on a Tim Winton novel, Breath is a lovely, gentle film set in Australia in the 1970s.
Filmed on the south coast of Western Australia, Breath captures the stunning beauty of Australia's bush and beaches, which feature heavily thanks to a storyline dominated by surfing.
The film tells the coming-of-age story of Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence), young teenagers who learn to surf together, eventually under the tutelage of Sando (Simon Baker) who comes to be a father/older brother figure to them. All three give fantastic performances.
As in any decent coming-of-age tale, all is not always as it seems and the relationships between the three of them, Pikelet's parents (Rachael Blake and Richard Roxburgh) and Sando's partner (Elizabeth Debicki) all prove rich, complex and often subtle.
I happen to have just finished reading Tim Winton's newest novel and between that and this film I am reminded that he doesn't typically go in for a big crescendo. If you're waiting for one big knock-out punch, it won't come. Fine by me; like I said, this is a gentle film.
I hadn't read the book, read any reviews, or seen any interviews with Baker when I saw this film and it was a great way to go into it - everything was new and intriguing.
Here's a four star review in the Sydney Morning Herald if you do want to know more.
Trailer here. In cinemas now.