''Lover Boy'' is a 1989

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

directed by

Geoffrey Wright Geoffrey Wright (born 1959) is an Australian film director and screenwriter, who gained cult success with the 1992 film ''Romper Stomper'', starring Russell Crowe. In 1994 he directed the gritty suburban thriller film ''Metal Skin'', starring ...

. It stars

Noah Taylor Noah George Taylor (born 4 September 1969) is a British-born Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as teenage David Helfgott in '' Shine'', Locke in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', Darby Sabini in the BBC One series ''Peaky Bli ...

and

Gillian Jones Gillian Jones (born 19 April 1947) is an Australian actress from Newcastle, New South Wales who is best known for appearances in ''Twelfth Night'', ''Oscar and Lucinda'', ''Last Train to Freo'' and the role of Di Paige in the television series ...

Plot

In the western suburbs of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, shy teenage misfit Mick (

) is volunteered by his mother to mow the lawns of her friend Sally (

). Mick and Sally soon become lovers, drawn to each other for different reasons – Mick from typical

adolescent sexuality Adolescent sexuality is a stage of human development in which adolescents experience and explore sexual feelings. Interest in sexuality intensifies during the onset of puberty, and sexuality is often a vital aspect of teenagers' lives. Sexual int ...

and Sally from desperate loneliness. The relationship leads to conflict and eventually violence.

Cast

as Mick *

as Sally *

Ben Mendelsohn Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn (born 3 April 1969) is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his breakout role in ''The Year My Voice Broke'' (1987) and since then he has had roles in films such as '' Animal Kingdom'' (2010) ...

as Gazza *

Alice Garner Alice Miriam Olivia Garner is an Australian actor, author, musician, teacher and historian. She is the daughter of Australian novelist and screenwriter Helen Garner and playwright, historian and actor Bill Garner. Acting life and career Garn ...

as Rhonda *

Daniel Pollock Daniel John Pollock (24 August 1968 – 13 April 1992) was an Australian film actor. He was perhaps best known for his role as Davey in the 1992 drama film ''Romper Stomper''. Personal life Pollock was born in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), ...

as Duck

Home media

''Lover Boy'' and the

David Swann David Richard Swann (born June 19, 1949) is a Canadian medical doctor and politician. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Alberta Legislature from December 2008 until resigning as party leader in ...

short film ''Bonza'' were released as a double feature VHS tape in 1989. ''Lover Boy'' was a special feature on the DVD release of Wright's 1994 film ''

Metal Skin ''Metal Skin'' is a 1994 Australian film written and directed by Geoffrey Wright, starring Aden Young, Tara Morice, Nadine Garner and Ben Mendelsohn. The film follows the lives of four adolescents in and around the Blue-collar worker, blue-collar ...

''.

Novelisation

The novelisation of ''Lover Boy'' was written by Jocelyn Harewood and published by Text Publishing in 1994. It explores the conflicting worlds of a teenager and a mature woman as they discover the full force of their sexuality. The joy this brings soon turns to torment and violence. Harewood follows the film closely. However she also develops the characters, so the reader can empathise with their attitudes and behaviour. ''Lover Boy'', the book, was published as an e-book in November 2012.

References

External links

*
''Lover Boy''
at Oz Movies 1989 films 1989 short films Australian drama short films 1980s English-language films Films directed by Geoffrey Wright 1980s Australian films {{1980s-Australia-film-stub