Davis rescues a formula

On My Own
Directed by Antonio Tibaldi
With Judy Davis and Matthew Ferguson
Reviewed by Gabrielle Carey

On My Own is a teen coming of age film with a difference. At the edge of 15-year-old Simon's fairly formula struggles with awakening sexuality, sporting prowess and the disciplinarians at his upper class boarding school, is his growing awareness of his mother's schizophrenia.

As a psychological illness, it's one of the lesser understood in the wider community, so it's gratifying to see it dealt with in a feature film.

While unsatisfying as a study of the disease, the fact that it is not the central focus of On My Own makes the film more poignant and less patronising. A broader picture is given, showing the impact on the families of sufferers.

Co-written and directed by Australian Antonio Tibaldi, On My Own is set in Canada and might have been relegated to the ranks of the little seen low budget but for the casting of Judy Davis (most recently seen in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives) as Simon's mother. Her performance is, as usual, fantastic and really carries the film.

Matthew Ferguson in his film debut as Simon is pretty good, too.

Some scenes are over-wordy and static, but innovative dream sequences lift the action. The film, at times clumsy, has glimpses of brilliance in Davis' scenes, which are sensitive, tragic and tempered with humour.

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