Swimming Upstream (2003)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers (WGA):

Anthony Fingleton (autobiography) and
Diane Fingleton (autobiography) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 February 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The pride of a nation. The heart of a champion.

Plot:

The inspirational life story of Australian swimmer, Tony Fingleton.

Plot Keywords:

Swimming | Champion | Swimmer | Tears | Ironing

Awards:

4 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Geoffrey Rush	...	Harold Fingleton
Judy Davis	...	Dora Fingleton
Jesse Spencer	...	Tony Fingleton
Tim Draxl	...	John Fingleton
Deborah Kennedy	...	Billie
David Hoflin	...	Harold Fingleton Jr.
Craig Horner	...	Ronald Fingleton
Brittany Byrnes	...	Diane Fingleton
Mitchell Dellevergin	...	Young Tony
Thomas Davidson	...	Young John
Kain O'Keeffe	...	Young Harold Jr.
Robert Quinn	...	Young Ronald
Keeara Byrnes	...	Young Diane
Mark Hembrow	...	Tommy
Simon Burvill-Holmes	...	Brother Campbell
Bob Newman	...	Panno
Andrew Nason	...	Burly Labourer
Barrie Young	...	Pub Patron
Michael Earnshaw	...	Pub Patron
Remi Broadway	...	Murray Rose
Melissa Thomas	...	Dawn Fraser
Andrew Booth	...	Bruce Humphrey
Brett Bullock	...	Gary Humphrey
Todd Leigh	...	Lifeguard
Steven O'Donnell	...	Lifeguard
Christopher Morris	...	Medic
Anneliese Fegan	...	Nurse
Gyton Grantley	...	Swimmer
Tudor Vasile	...	Swimmer
Dayle Marriott	...	Melbourne Swimmer
Nick Crilly	...	Jason Saunders
Laura Donaldson	...	Young Girl Fan with Dog
Courtney Ayre	...	Young Girl Fan #1
Joanne Dobbin	...	Young Girl Fan #2
Todd Levi	...	Well Dressed Man
Russell Krause	...	Reporter
Ron Kelly	...	Reporter
Murray Rose	...	Reporter
Paul Raynor	...	Reporter
Justine Anderson	...	Tearoom Waitress
Dawn Fraser	...	Dawn Fraser's Coach
Chris Herden	...	North Sydney Race Starter
Cameron Watt	...	Valley Pool Starter
Christopher Betts	...	Valley Pool Starter
Terry Bone	...	Valley Pool Starter
Peter Marshall	...	Empire Games Race Starter
Bruce Wainwright	...	Empire Games Official
Peter Jeremijenko	...	Pool Marshall
Bruce Shapiro	...	Pool Man
Chas Green	...	Striker
Aash Aaron	...	Striker (as Aaron Aash)
Ray McCabbin	...	Catholic Priest
Katherine Lyall Watson	...	Grocery Woman
Raj Ryan	...	Radio Commentator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Ienna	...	School Student
Garry Parmenter	...	Australian Titles Race Starter
Luke Wright	...	Mark
Des Drury	...	Mack (uncredited)
Prince Philip	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sonja Zanger	...	Indignant woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Russell Mulcahy

Writing credits (WGA)
Anthony Fingleton		(autobiography) and
Diane Fingleton		(autobiography)
Anthony Fingleton		(screenplay)

Produced by
Howard Baldwin	....	producer
Karen Elise Baldwin	....	producer
Anthony Fingleton	....	executive producer
Carol Hughes	....	line producer
William J. Immerman	....	executive producer
Andrew Mason	....	executive producer
Nick Morton	....	co-producer
Paul Pompian	....	producer

Original Music by
Reinhold Heil
Johnny Klimek

Cinematography by
Martin McGrath

Film Editing by
Marcus D'Arcy

Casting by
Ann Robinson

Production Design by
Roger Ford

Art Direction by
Laurie Faen

Set Decoration by
Kerrie Brown

Costume Design by
Angus Strathie

Makeup Department
Anita Morgan	....	hair stylist
Anita Morgan	....	makeup artist
Lynne O'Brien	....	makeup department head
Tracy Reeby	....	hair stylist
Tracy Reeby	....	makeup artist
Pamela Roth	....	makeup artist: Judy Davis
Kym Sainsbury	....	additional hair stylist
Kym Sainsbury	....	makeup artist
Zeljka Stanin	....	hair stylist: Ms. Davis
Dallas Stephens	....	senior hair stylist
Dallas Stephens	....	senior makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Bond	....	assistant unit manager
Jennifer Cornwell	....	production manager
Bronwyn Gerathy	....	post-production supervisor
Paul Malone	....	unit manager
Paul Pompian	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Campbell	....	second assistant director
Carolynne Cunningham	....	first assistant director
Cas Hall	....	third assistant director
Tim Hughes	....	third assistant director
Kelly Johanson	....	assistant director: cast
Charles Mann	....	additional assistant director
Dean Mountford	....	additional assistant director

Art Department
Joel Barnes	....	construction runner
Wendy Buick	....	graphic artist
Graham Burton	....	carpenter
Simon Clayton	....	set finisher
Calvin Coster	....	set painter
Graham Dunn	....	carpenter
Mat Fergus	....	art department runner
Brendan Glennon	....	carpenter
Shelley Holubiczka	....	set painter
Paul Hurrell	....	props buyer
Elaine Kusmishko	....	assistant art director
Matt Leary	....	set finisher
Elizabeth Long	....	set dresser assistant
Marian Long	....	lead buyer
John Moore	....	construction manager
Paul O'Reilly	....	leading hand
Rod Orloff	....	carpenter
Shane Pentland	....	carpenter
Christian Petersen	....	set dresser assistant
Fabian Poggendorf	....	set dresser assistant
Dean Reeson	....	carpenter
Jason Segal	....	set finisher
Zeynep Selcuk	....	assistant set dresser
Bernadette Sexton	....	trade assistant
Derek Shields	....	carpenter
Dean Sullivan	....	stand-by props
Jocelyn Thomas	....	art department coordinator
Jocelyn Thomas	....	coordinator
Bill Undery	....	scenic artist
Rohan Weston	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Christian Bass	....	sound editor
Greg Burgmann	....	production sound mixer
Gethin Creagh	....	additional sound mixer
Paul Jons	....	boom operator
Sonal Joshi	....	adr editor
Nada Mikas	....	dialogue editor
Damon Mouris	....	sound mixing assistant
Linda Murdoch	....	sound editor: atmosphere
Bronwyn Murphy	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Plain	....	supervising sound editor
Liam Price	....	assistant sound editor
Blair Slater	....	foley engineer
Peter D. Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Sullivan	....	temp dub mixer
Lidia Tamplenizza	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Thompson	....	adr engineer
Glen Townson	....	second boom operator
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist
Mark Ward	....	sound effects editor
Andy Wright	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Harry Ward	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Tim Baier	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Chris Burn	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Robert Cunynghame	....	visual effects editorial assistant
Jonathan Dixon	....	digital liaison
Jeanmarc Furio	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Jonathan Hairman	....	digital compositor
Mark Harmon	....	digital opticals
Michelle Jenkinson	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Rita Kunzler	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Maryanne Lauric	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Jolene McCaffrey	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Amber Naismith	....	visual effects producer
Zareh Nalbandian	....	visual effects executive producer: Animal Logic
Graham Olsen	....	digital opticals effects
John Pope	....	scanning
Dane Rapaport	....	systems administrator
Danielle Rubin	....	visual effects coordinator
Robert Sandeman	....	digital opticals effects
Anthos Simon	....	digital opticals effects
Chris Swinbanks	....	scanning supervisor
Kat Szuminska	....	digital compositor: Animal Logic
Tim Trumble	....	film recording technician
Philip Whitely	....	matte painter
Simon Whitley	....	matte painter (as Simon Whiteley)
Simon Whitley	....	visual effects supervisor (as Simon Whiteley)
Frederick Wolff	....	scanning
Henry Yekanians	....	digital opticals effects
George Zwier	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Chris Anderson	....	stunt coordinator
Ray Anthony	....	stunts
Danny Baldwin	....	stunts
Mick Corrigan	....	stunts
Harley D'Jekic	....	stunts
Simon Durante	....	stunts
Sam Elia	....	stunts
Peter Jeremijenko	....	stunts
Nigel King	....	stunts
Rick MacLure	....	stunts (as Rick MacClure)
Nick McKinless	....	stunts
Stephen Robinson	....	stunts
Darko Tuscan	....	assistant stunt coordinator (as Darko Tuskan)
Darko Tuscan	....	stunts (as Darko Tuskan)
Darrell Walshe	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jesse Christidis	....	clapper loader: second camera
Simon Christidis	....	Steadicam operator
Phil Cross	....	camera operator
Phil Cross	....	underwater camera operator (as Philip Cross)
Phil Cross	....	underwater director of photography
Celia Do Carmo Jong	....	video split operator
Mark Green	....	electrician
David Griffiths	....	assistant grip
Glenn Jones	....	generator operator
Kristen Jones	....	film loader
Jamieson Lowe	....	camera loader
Brett Marks	....	key grip
Margie McClymont	....	focus puller
Maurice McKay	....	assistant grip
Ken Moffatt	....	gaffer
Kai Nemeth	....	electrician
Margaret Stancombe	....	camera attachment
Ivan Tatarovic	....	best boy grip
Vince Valitutti	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Sally Mann	....	casting assistant
Jade Tam	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alison Coady	....	costume buyer
Saffron Firkins	....	costume cutter
Eliza Godman	....	costume supervisor
Kim Green	....	costume extras coordinator
Julie Herlihy	....	costume supervisor (as Julie Herlily)
Shereen Khan	....	stand-by costume: extras
Matthew Kinman	....	assistant stand-by wardrobe
Helen Mains	....	key costume stand-by
Emma Shakes	....	costume maker

Editorial Department
Pamela Barnetta	....	film conform editor
Mario Barrera	....	colorist
David Burrows	....	film conform editor
Frayne Dyke-Walker	....	additional editor
Alan Hansen	....	digital colorist
Susan Horsley	....	film conform editor
Paula Lourie	....	film conform editor
Tony Manning	....	film grader
Omneya 'Nini' Mazen	....	post-production consultant
Antonio Mestres	....	assistant editor
Rebecca Murphy	....	assistant editor
Cleo Myles	....	first assistant editor
Karen Psaltis	....	negative matcher
Milena Romanin	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Shawn K. Clement	....	composer: additional music
Leah Curtis	....	music preparation
Arlene Fishbach	....	music supervisor
Alan Hewitt	....	composer: additional music
Bronwen Jones	....	orchestrator
Simon Leadley	....	music editor
Tommy Lockett	....	music editor
Gabriel Isaac Mounsey	....	music programmer
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Tim Ryan	....	music editor
David Sabee	....	conductor
Mike Slamer	....	composer: additional music
Mike Slamer	....	music editor
Susan Slamer	....	music supervisor
Jesse Voccia	....	music programmer
Katrina Schiller	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)

Other crew
Caroline Austin	....	production secretary
Bish Bishop	....	unit assistant
Kira Bohn	....	script supervisor
Pina Brancalini	....	location assistant
Kerrin Crompton	....	unit assistant
Elaine Crowther	....	production accountant
Karin Davis	....	production assistant
Cameron Hoy	....	production runner
Mark Learmont	....	unit assistant
Nicole Matthews	....	production runner
Rebecca McElroy	....	location scout
Jamie McLennan	....	location manager
Kerry Mulgrew	....	production coordinator
Tim O'Connor	....	accounting assistant
Bob Parsons	....	armorer
Tonia Pearson	....	assistant: Andrew Mason
Nathalia Rayfield	....	assistant: Geoffrey Rush
N. Sandberg	....	senior consultant: film production
N.L. Sandberg	....	senior consultant: film production
Fiona Searson	....	unit publicist
Nick Smith	....	assistant location manager
Julian Summers	....	armorer
Fiona Wallis	....	animal wrangler

Production Companies

• Upstream Productions Pty. Ltd.
• Baldwin Entertainment Group

Distributors

• Hoyts Distribution (Australia)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Crusader Entertainment (USA)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2005) (USA) (all media)
• Bodega Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Bonton Home Entertainment (BHE) (2004) (Czech Republic) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Animal Logic

Other Companies

• Chris Rowell Productions Pty. Ltd.  negative matching
• Optical & Graphics  end credits
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Trackdown Digital  music editing services

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving alcoholism and domestic abuse.

Runtime:

114 min | Australia:105 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #39346) | Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Upstream Productions Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

In the movie, Tony competes in the 100-meter backstroke, winning a silver medal at the Empire Games in 1962. In 1962, the Empire Games swimming events were measured in yards, and Tony won silver behind another Australian in the 220-yard event. When he is later told that "your event was today" in reference to the 1964 Olympics, it refers to the 200-meter backstroke - the 100 wasn't contested in Tokyo.

Quotes:

Tony Fingleton: [after losing to John] You reckon I could swim from here to America?
Dora Fingleton: You just going to sit here feeling sorry for yourself?
Tony Fingleton: No, John's the star. He's a better swimmer than me. He always has been. He's good, mum. John's number one.
Dora Fingleton: You know it's just one race. They'll be plenty of races for you.
Tony Fingleton: How many years have I been swimming? I wanted to win a medal. I wanted to be a champion and win a medal at the Olympics.
[sighs]
Tony Fingleton: You know? You know, I wanted to *be* somebody.
Dora Fingleton: I don't think you're nobody. Winning a medal isn't going to change that.
Tony Fingleton: Mum, it's not about that, all right?! I wanted-I had this plan, all right? I thought if maybe if I could get to the top of the swimming, then it would lead to something and then-I'd get, then I could-I could just-just *go*!
[sobs]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Swimming Upstream: The Making of a Champion (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

A real winner!

This true story of Australian swimmer Tony Fingleton is not your typical "inspirational" tale of rising above the odds to become a champion, it is rather a tale about the real meaning of success. Success is about realising yourself, not the deeds you do or the medals you win. For Tony this was a tough lesson to learn.

The film is brilliantly directed by Russell Mulcahy, who shows unusual restraint, without losing his dynamic and unique style. Some of his direction here reminded me of his work on "Queer As Folk", as he manages to stylise the action without sacrificing the emotional integrity of the screenplay (which was written by Fingleton himself). Although the film is set in the 1950s and 1960s, Mulcahy refuses to become a slave to the period, instead he utilises 21st century editing styles, including the truly thrilling use of split-screens for the race sequences, and a terrific electronic music score, to make this period tale utterly contemporary.

The performances are nothing short of spectacular. Jesse Spencer, who plays Tony, seems set for international stardom. With the face of an angel, and the body of a god, he can hardly fail to make an impression - but he can really act as well! He is ably supported by two of the greatest actors in the world today, and they're both Aussies - Judy Davis and Geoffrey Rush, who play Tony's parents. The story focuses on Tony's relationship with his father, a very strained and complex relationship. Rush's performance is probably his best screen work to date (yes, even better than "Shine"!), as he creates a multi-dimensional being out of what could have been a cliched villain. And Davis just keeps getting better and better as an actress. As the long-suffering mother, she completely avoids cliche, and invests the character with zest, warmth, love and anger. She is dynamite! Tim Draxl is also impressive as Tony's brother John - at once jealous and proud, and Mitchell Dellevergin is perfect as the young Tony. All the performances are excellent, although I could have done without the comic cameo by Dawn Fraser, which harms the emotional intensity of one very important scene.

Perhaps the film hammers its themes a little too relentlessly, but it's easy to forgive a film that has this much heart. Given the right distribution I think this film will go on to great international acclaim, and strong box-office. Another Aussie classic to treasure!