
So grateful to walk early on the beach #selfcare #over50 #wellbeing #australia @boneAndsilver
Two nights ago I submerged myself in a 2-hour film called ‘Breath.’ Based on the novel of the same name by Tim Winton, with his contributions to the screenplay, and voice-over narration, it washed through me so deeply that I didn’t even want to keep talking over coffee afterwards, but went home to float through the ongoing swell of watery images and sensations.
My movie buddy asked me to articulate what I got from it, and I tried to sum it up in 3 main ways:
- An immersion in the uniquely-Australian, beachside surf culture of the 1970s (which I didn’t live), but which ’17’s’ Dad did, and to an extent ’17’ still does
- A reflection in the capacity to ‘lose oneself’ in one’s passion, as I feel when I dance, and yet also being more at one with yourself than at any other time. Also, seeing the stunning natural landscape- it’s set in Western Australia- and hearing the torrential downpours of a typical summer
- The crafting of the characters, where a simple sentence showed so much of each personality. Or the lack of a sentence, as Australian men do tend towards monosyllabic grunts in times of trouble

So grateful to walk early on the beach #selfcare #over50 #wellbeing #australia @boneAndsilver
It made me want to get surfing lessons. It made me want to ride a dragster bike down a dirt lane without a care in the world. It made me want to rent a beachside shack with a lover, and sit reading beside the fire while it poured with rain outside, then make love under a mosquito net. It made me want to be 15 again. It made me want to smoke a joint and tell tall stories!
But here’s a much more articulate and mature professional review of the book in the New York Times.
Go see it. If you love the beach, surfing, swimming, fishing, nature, the 1970s, Australia, or coming-of-age movies, go see it. If you love Tim Winton, or actor/director Simon Baker, go see it. Dive in, and you’ll come up for air so glad that you did.
Let me know what you think of it if you go.
Now what’s the best movie you’ve seen lately and why?
In gratitude for the evocative smell of popcorn, G xO
You are merely a little beyond 15 in the grand scheme of things! Just jumble the number, 51,15, 51…
Get the dragster (or a Triumph as I have) and ride with the wind….. and go for the sub mosquito net melting moments. Grab life sweet lady ❤
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So true! So near to 15, and yet also so far… but definitely grabbing life, yes 😊 x G
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I will look for the film. You’ve inspired me, as the movie has inspired you!
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Tim is one of my favorite writers- so visceral and uniquely Australian- please comment back here with your thoughts if you see the film 👍🏼 😊
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Will do
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Thankyou so much for this – you have made my day. I had been so looking forward to this movie as 1) I was a “ Puberty Blues” beach girl and 2) I was really interested in seeing how Simon Baker managed two roles, directing and acting. During the week I read a review in the Courier Mail that was so scathing, so bleak, that I decided that I could not bring myself to see the movie. I will see if I can hunt it down – after I’ve been to the flicks of course.
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I’m so glad you read this post Brizzy! It is so Puberty Blues- promise me you’ll come back here and add a comment after you’ve seen it? Simon did SUCH a good job- I was nervous too, about the adaptation of such a story- but Tim wrote the screenplay too, and I thought it was fabulous. So worth seeing on the big screen though, with the surround sound of the waves, the rain, the Aussie bush and kombis. Enjoy xx
PS: The Courier Mail is not such a fab paper… and the movie is not a ‘normal’ movie- I still feel it washing around inside of me now 🙂
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I think your review was very articulate! 🙂
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Thanks 😊 I wouldn’t want to write for The NY Times anyway, even if they asked me- too serious 😘
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I’m glad you loved the film. I absolutely loved the book (a big Tim Winton fan) so was reluctant to see the movie as they often don’t live up to the book version.
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Me too- I couldn’t put the book down when I read it… but the film sticks very close to it, and Tim did the screenplay as well, so rest assured it’s worth a visit 😊
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I’ll go on your recommendation
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Oooh! Best moving we’ve seen recently–and even on my top five best lifetime movies–is Wonderstruck, which is an Amazon Prime original. It’s magic. It evokes the 1970s and the 1920s. It’s about family, getting lost, and being redeemed–through love and magic and art!
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Wonderstruck hey- ok, I’ll look for it, thanks! That’s a big rating you’re giving it, so it must be good 😊👍🏼
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Love Tim Winton! I was lucky enough to see him live in my town for his promotional tour of Shepherd’s Hut. His talk is online about Toxic Masculinity and it’s really worth sitting down for an hour and listening to it – incredibly well done, understated, measured, funny and wise.
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Ha! ’17’ and I went to the exact same thing here in Northern NSW! We too were hanging off his every word… such a living legend 🙏🏼
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I’m so glad you managed to do that! And you took your son! I would have liked to do that, and in hindsight I should have!
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He loves Tim Winton and aspires to write even half as well as him 😊
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Not a beach bunny, I’m afraid, but I did enjoy sharing your reactions. 🙂
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😎 I’m not a beach girl either but this film made me want to be a dolphin!!
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Ah, dolphin. Yes, dolphin I could manage. 😀
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oooh I loved the book, looking forward to the movie.
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Let me know if you enjoyed it; I hope I’m not building up too much expectations!
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Thanks for the review a great movie. Challenging theme in many ways. Wonder how we would view an older man seducing a school age woman in this current age. Got to say the cinematography and acting was great.
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Oh totally agree- there was a lot that was uncomfortable about this film, under the surface… just like the sea hey? Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
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I’m not from Australia, but I love Australian culture and anything related with the ocean, so I will definitely check this out!
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Oh I hope you do, it’s stunning- definitely better at the cinema than just on tv screen though. Thanks for commenting 😊 G (ps the book is a fab read too- he’s one of our best contemporary authors)
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I love reading as well as movies, so I will definitely be checking out the book!
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Great review! I’d like to share it on my website, if that’s okay with you. I’ll link to your site and give you credit. It will post Saturday, June 9.
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That sounds great W, thanks. Have you seen the film yourself? It has some adult content towards the end, I must caution
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Thank you 😊
I so recommend all Tim’s other books too- a wonderful writer 🙏🏼
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