INNOCENCE

Year: 2000
USA: IDP Releasing
UK: Capers Productions Ltd
Cast: Julia Blake, Charles 'Bud' Tingwell, Kristien Van Pellicom, Kenny Aernouts, Terry Norris, Robert Menzies, Marta Dusseldorp, Chris Haywood, Norman Kaye, Joey Kennedy, Liz Windsor, Peter Berger, Mary Bleby, Michaela Cantwell, Kyra Cox, Christine Danton, Tommy Darwin, Jan Dyck, Peter Gaetjem, Carmel Johnson, Dawn Klingberg, Angela Noack, Kate Roberts, Kerryn Schofield, Lucy Slattery, Rory Walker
Director: Paul Cox
Country: Australia
USA: 92 mins
UK: 95 mins
UK Certificate: 12 contains moderate sex and one use of strong language
USA Release Date: 17 August 2001 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 10 January 2003

Synopsis

Retired organist and music teacher, Andreas Borg (Charles Tingwall) discovers that his first true love, Claire (Julia Blake), lives in the same city as he does. Fifty years after they shared a passionate love affair in post-war Belgium, Andreas writes her a letter. Claire hesitatingly responds to his plea to meet again, and it soon becomes evident that their love has not faded. Nothing feels as if it has changed; yet everything evidently has. Knowing that time is precious, they embark on an affair as reckless, intense and tempestuous as when they were lovers.

Andreas has been a widower for thirty years. Claire shares a bed with her husband John (Terry Norris), in a marriage that has dried up and emptied of all passion and zest - but which the reunion with Andreas has finally brought back to her. Bewildered and overcome with jealousy, John does all in his power to halt the madness. But, torn between her affections for her husband and the passionate love of her youth, Claire decides to follow her heart regardless of the consequences.

A poignant homage to the human spirit, INNOCENCE is a tragicomic tale of love and lust, of tenderness and hop. A passionate reminder to live life to the full, INNOCENCE was written, directed and co-produced by Paul Cox.