LOOK BOTH WAYS

Year: 2005
USA: Kino International
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Justine Clarke, William McInnes, Anthony Hayes, Lisa Flanagan, Andrew S Gilbert, Daniela Farinacci, Sacha Horler, Mggie Dence, Edwin Hodgman, Andreas Sorbik
Director: Sarah Watt
Country: Australia
USA & UK: 100 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content and thematic material
UK Certificate: 12A contains disturbing images and theme of death
USA Release Date: 28 April 2006 (Limited Release)
USA Release Date: 14 April 2006 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 25 August 2006

US Distributor
Synopsis

LOOK BOTH WAYS is the first feature written and directed by Sarah Watt, an acclaimed creator of animated shorts. Mixing animation and live action, LOOK BOTH WAYS follows the misadventures of Meryl (Justine Clarke), a woman who sees disaster everywhere.

It's the hottest weekend of the summer, and a very recent tragic train derailment features in everyone's mind. With this news as backdrop, seven people are trying to deal with unexpected events. Meryl, returning from her father's funeral, sees disaster everywhere. She has until Monday to finish her work or lose her job, leaving her with (in her mind), nothing. Nick visits his doctor for a routine medical and learns that he has cancer. He has to wait until Monday to know more. Andy is thrown by his girlfriend Anna's ultimatum - he has 'til Monday to consider the news of her unplanned pregnancy.

Their paths intersect at the site of another accident. A man has been hit and killed by a local train. Meryl is a witness; Andy the journalist and Nick the photographer, cover the story for their newspaper. Nick takes a powerful photograph but finds that Phil, his editor, has placed Julia, the young woman whose husband has been killed on Saturday's front cover.

During a fiercely hot weekend ... all four grapple with their messy, unexpected, life-changing news, wondering whether the hand that fate has dealt them is deserved, whether bad news is punishment - whether they even have an entitlement to happiness. On Sunday afternoon, the rain brings relief, and everything seems clearer.

Reminiscent of early Jane Campion (PASSIONLESS MOMENTS, SWEETIE), animator Sarah Watt's accomplished and uplifting debut live-action feature encapsulates a unique spirit and charm. LOOK BOTH WAYS was a huge domestic hit, picking up 4 AFI Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor, winner of the Discovery Award at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and has won numerous critical and audience awards internationally.