WRITTEN BY : Gabriel Carrubba
DIRECTED BY : Gabriel Carrubba
About the Film
In the outer suburbs of Melbourne seventeen-year-old Leo leads a seemingly typical life. Amidst hanging out with friends, bickering with his Italian family at the dinner table, going to school, and making out with his girlfriend Monique, Leo guards a secret he’s afraid to confront - a hidden truth buried deep within.
As Leo grapples with his inner turmoil, he finds himself unexpectedly drawn to his best friend Boof, and the quiet introverted boy at school named Tom. These newfound feelings force Leo to confront his true desires and come to terms with his identity.
However, everything changes after a high school gathering when rumours about Leo’s sexuality begin to circulate shattering his once stable world. Faced with the fear of rejection from those closest to him, Leo must navigate the uncertain waters of acceptance and love.
Cast:
Liam Mollica - Leo
Luke J Morgan - Boof
Olivia Fildes - Monique
Elias Anton - Derek
Film Details
Completed : 15 June 2023
Theatrical Release : July 4th 2024
Budget : $1m
Running Time : 84m
Country of Origin : Australia
Screener Link : Click here (password required)
Genre : Drama
Classification: MA 15+
Festivals & Awards
Festivals/Awards : CinfestOZ (2023), Adelaide Film Festival (2023), The Sydney Film Festival (2023), Melbourne International Film Festival (2023), Brisbane International Film Festival (2023)
Director’s Statement
SUNFLOWER is a semi-biographical take on the tender years of my youth. The youth that was stripped from me. The youth that I spent with my heart in my mouth. Growing up, I felt alone and isolated, as if I was the only teenage boy struggling with my thoughts and feelings. I spent countless nights crying myself to sleep, wishing that one day I’d wake up cured of my gayness. Society made me feel like I was a monster. I saw no future, only darkness at the end of what I assumed to be a very short tunnel. I made this film to work through my own trauma, and in doing so I hope to give queer teenagers hope— to show them that they are not alone, that they are perfectly fine just the way they are. I also made this film for queer adults— to give them a chance to reflect on their stunted adolescence, and allow them to heal from their trauma and pain. My experience does not stand alone. My experience is the experience of many. This one is for all the kids who learned to love themselves despite the shame. Had I seen a film like SUNFLOWER as a teenager, perhaps I wouldn’t have felt so isolated.
Gabriel Carrubba
Director
Movie Poster
Reviews
“Carrubba’s feature debut has been stunning audiences as it takes on the festival circuit, selling out sessions at MIFF and appearing in articles everywhere - a hype train well and truly worthy of the film.”
Lily McMillan-Merahi - RMITV | Read full review
"Writer-director Gabriel Carrubba does an excellent job of balancing the sweet and sour moments of teen life. Moments of teenage cruelty are juxtaposed with scenes of beauty and joy. Martine Wolff’s cinematography adds a dream-like layer to much of the film, especially the romantic moments. It invitingly and warmly holds the audience’s hand as if to let us know that we are looking back at events that have been lived through already, and everything will turn out alright. "
Chad Armstrong - The Queer Review | Read full review
"If the coming-out-of-age story told here is familiar ... it’s leant a rewarding authenticity by Carrubba’s generosity, drawing deep from his not-too-distant school dramas to paint a beautiful portrait of a young man edging past adversity towards hope."
Stephen A Russell - Rotten Tomatoes | Read full review
"Ultimately, the film acts as a perfect touchstone for, and a masterful hallmark of, modern queer film. This gay love story brings endless heartfelt candour to the big screen, the blend of truly sincere characters and an endlessly human story meld together to create a stunning debut film for Gabriel Carrubba."
Nathan Phillis - Pulp | Read full review
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