JOHN DUIGAN

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB.5.

Australia, 1991.  Kennedy Miller Productions.  Screenplay by John Duigan.  Cinematography by Geoff Burton.  Produced by Terry Hayes, George Miller, Doug Mitchell.  Music by James D’Arcy, Christine Woodruff.  Production Design by Roger Ford.  Costume Design by Roger Ford.  Film Editing by Robert Gibson.  

John Duigan’s sequel to The Year My Voice Broke is superior to its original. It continues the adventures of a young Australian boy (a superb Noah Taylor) who moves from the outback to a ritzy boarding school and falls in love with an African exchange student (Thandie Newton). Nicole Kidman has a marvelous supporting role as the prettiest, most popular girl in school who is confined by her popularity; the scene in which she reveals her secret sexual fantasy to a fellow student is among this film’s best.