The Saviour (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Peter Templeman

Writer:

Peter Templeman (writer)

Genre:

Short | Drama

Plot:

A young Church elder struggles with his faith when the married woman he has been seeing breaks off their relationship.

Plot Keywords:

Church | Love | Male Female Relationship | Mormon | Obsession

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Thom Campbell	...	Malcolm
Susan Prior	...	Carmel
Rhys Muldoon	...	Tony
David Somerville	...	Paul
Nicholas Hammond	...	Pastor
Robin Goldsworthy	...	Todd
Michael Booth	...	Chuck
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarah Frost	...	Mother with Baby
Adam J. Yeend	...	Mormon Elder

Directed by
Peter Templeman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Templeman		writer

Produced by
Stuart Parkyn	....	producer

Original Music by
Jessica Wells

Cinematography by
David Hawkins

Film Editing by
Matthew Walker

Art Direction by
Mitchell Seeto

Makeup Department
Dakota Matich	....	key hair stylist
Dakota Matich	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eamon Barling	....	additional assistant director
Matt Enfield	....	first assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Nicola Daley	....	additional photographer
Judd Overton	....	camera operator
Juliet Young	....	clapper loader

Other crew
Peter Millynn	....	production executive
Wayne Pleace	....	safety report writer

Production Companies

• Australian Film, Television and Radio School

Distributors

• Magnolia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• AFTRS (2005) (Australia) (DVD)

Runtime:

Australia:17 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Epping, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film, Television and Radio School

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV)

Offensive and irreverent....but funny

This film has to do with a team of evangelists canvassing a neighborhood. However, one of them isn't the best representative of the faith because he ends up sleeping with one of his potential converts--leading to a very sticky (and funny) situation.

I won't attack this film like one of the other nominations, though I can see how they might be upset that the film definitely makes fun of some religious people, though I don't think it can be categorically said that the film targets Mormons. The characters do seem rather like the Mormons, though no mention is made of Mormons, The Book of Mormon and the missionaries only carry the Bible and refer to their leader as 'pastor'. So this might be seen as a general attack on religion or Christianity instead of Mormonism.

My advice, then, is that if this might offend you, then watch a different film. However, despite the film's tone towards religion, it is very well written and directed--as well as being very clever. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Live Action Short for 2006 but lost to the amazing WEST BANK STORY.

These and many more are included on the DVD "A Collection of 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films" and is well worth buying because it is jam-packed full of 13 wonderful shorts.