''Tom White'' is a 2004 film directed by
Alkinos Tsilimidos.
Plot
Tom White is an
architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
who chooses to make himself homeless. Outwardly, he has all the signs of a successful life—large home, loving family, successful career. However, it soon becomes clear that not everything is as it appears at work. Tom consciously takes a different path and cuts ties with his normal life. He has chosen the streets, where those he meets, in spite of their position, have enormous self-dignity—the
rent boy
Male prostitution is the act or practice of men providing sexual services in return for payment. It is a form of sex work. Although clients can be of any gender, the vast majority are older males looking to fulfill their sexual needs. Male pro ...
, an ex-junkie, a gentle-but-manly tramp and a 14-year-old
graffiti artist
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
. Tom goes on a personal journey of his own as he plumbs outsider society, yet he discovers his own dignity and gains an understanding of who he is.
Cast
Production
The film was scored by
Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions:
Dan Kelly,
Dan Luscombe,
Peter Luscombe
Peter Luscombe is an Australian drummer and composer.
Career
Luscombe was a member of The Black Sorrows from 1985 to 1993 appearing on the albums ''A Place in the World'' (1986), ''Dear Children'' (1987), ''Hold on to Me'' (1988), ''Harley and ...
and Bill MacDonald.
Release
The film was released in Australian cinemas on 19 August 2004 and played until 1 September 2004. The film premiered on 31 July 2004 at the
Melbourne International Film Festival. It was also screened at the Cannes Film Market on 13 May 2004; the
Pusan International Film Festival
The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festi ...
(South Korea) on 10 October 2004; Australian Film Festival (
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
) on 11 March 2005; the Commonwealth Film Festival (United Kingdom) on 4 May 2005 and at the
Saint-Tropez Festival of the Antipodes (France) on 20 October 2005.
Reception
Tom White received mixed critical reviews. The first weekend of release, Tom White was number 20 on the Australian Box office with an intake of (total $147, 495).
Awards
* Winner – Golden Tripod, Australian Cinematographers Society – 2004
* Winner –
Inside Film (IF) Awards – Best Actor – Australia, 2004
* Winner – 3
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
The Film Critics Circle of Australia (FCCA) is an association of cinema critics and reviewers. It includes journalists in "media, television, major national and state papers, radio, national and state, online and freelance writers, Australian ...
– Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor – Australia, 2004
* Nominated – 13
Australian Film Institute Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography – Australia, 2004
* Nominated – 5 Inside Film (IF) Awards including Best Film, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Script – Australia, 2004
* Nominated – 6 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress – Australia, 2004
Box office
''Tom White'' grossed $277,234 at the box office in Australia.
''Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''
/ref>
See also
* Cinema of Australia
References
External links
*
Tom White at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tom White (Film)
2004 films
Australian drama films
Films scored by Paul Kelly (Australian musician)
Films shot in Melbourne
2004 drama films
2000s English-language films