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Just Out of Reach (1979)

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clip The break-up

Original classification rating: M. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Cath (Lorna Lesley) comes home after spending the night with another man. She tries to communicate with Mike (Sam Neill) but he doesn’t want to talk. Next morning he suggests they break-up.

Curator’s notes

by Susan Lambert

This is the beginning of the end of the relationship with Mike. The break-up sets Cath on the road to her attempted suicide. This scene does not come as a surprise. Throughout the relationship Cath has been trying to get Mike to take her seriously and to communicate with her more. Feeling rejected she spends the night with another student to try and get Mike’s attention. Her attempt to regain their love and intimacy backfires and Cath finds herself alone.

This scene is wonderfully realised, with the intimacy of the script and the intensity of the acting increasing its power. The direction of it as an underplayed dramatic scene makes it all the more heartbreaking as we watch the characters struggle to connect with their own feelings. It rings very true as to how relationships end often not with a bang but a whimper. It also captures the heart of Cath’s confusion about intimacy and love.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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