Director: Luke Eve
Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Lily Sullivan, Joel Jackson, Zahra Newman
Running Time: 108 minutes
Synopsis: In Perth, Devon (Brenton Thwaites) is a musician suffering from schizophrenia. After a meltdown at the wedding of his brother Nick (Joel Jackson), Devon is institutionalized. Five years later, Nick and his wife Olivia (Zahra Newman) ask Devon to move into his own apartment, triggering a crisis. Devon is saved by the caring Lucy (Lily Sullivan), and they bond over a magical night. When she disappears leaving a note asking him to follow her to Sydney, Devon embarks on a cross-country journey seeking the love of his life.
What Works Well: This mix of romance and mental trauma treats a delicate topic with demonstrative sensitivity. Writer Glen Dolman humanizes Devon but avoids sugarcoating his ordeal, and several scenes capture harrowing disorientation when competing inner voices, one of them vicious, demand his attention. Elsewhere, the difficulties faced by a family caring for a mental health patient are presented through the pragmatic perspective of Nick and Olivia, who have to balance empathy for Devon with protecting their newborn.
What Does Not Work As Well: The narrative is choppy in service of the "is Lucy real or is she fantasy" quest, and Devon's road trip meanders through a few too many detours and quirky encounters. A twist arrives too late to deliver the desired impact, and the ending succumbs to tidiness.
Key Quote:
Devon (to Lucy): It's like you're from a fairytale. Like I've dreamt you.
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