Opal Dream (also known as Pobby and Dingan) is a 2006 Australian drama film, based on the Ben Rice novella Pobby and Dingan, directed by Peter Cattaneo and starring an ensemble cast including Vince Colosimo, Jacqueline McKenzie, Christian Byers and Sapphire Boyce. It was filmed on location around South Australia, in Adelaide, Coober Pedy and Woomera. Opal Dream was released in Australia on 28 September 2006, with eventual release around the world.
Cast
Plot
The film begins by introducing Kellyanne Williamson, playing with Pobby and Dingan. They have moved to Coober Pedy, known as the "opal capital of Australia", at the insistence of her father, Rex Williamson, who dreamt of fortune - but ultimately has little success - in opal mining. Pobby and Dingan are imaginary, so only Kellyanne can see them; her brother Ashmol, while he loves his sister, is frequently annoyed when she talks to two imaginary people, and some of the kids at school tease the siblings because of them.
Their parents, Rex and Annie, decide it is time to veer Kellyanne away from Pobby and Dingan. One day, while Rex "takes" Pobby and Dingan to go opal mining, Annie takes Kellyanne to a Christmas party at Annie's friend's house. When Ashmol and Rex comes back from opal mining, Kellyanne explains that Pobby and Dingan have disappeared. As she, Ashmol and Rex go back to the opal mining area to look for them, Rex and Kellyanne call for Pobby and Dingan, while Ashmol, exasperated, stands back and does nothing. The situation intensifies when they accidentally stray on to the neighbouring miner's patch, and a shotgun is drawn against Rex. The miner, Sid, calls the police, thinking that Rex was "ratting" on his territory - looking for opals on his turf.
Things take a turn for the worse. Kellyanne, who is grief-stricken at the loss of her imaginary friends, becomes sick, although doctors can find nothing physically wrong with her; Rex has to leave his opal claim; and Annie loses her job at Vera's local supermarket, thanks to the circulating rumours around Rex's arrest. Ashmol thinks that Kellyanne is faking her sickness. Kellyanne tries to find Pobby and Dingan, and asks Ashmol to help her. One day, while Kellyanne is in bed, Ashmol comes up with the idea of putting posters around town to raise awareness of their disappearance. Kellyanne asks Ashmol to secretly go back to Rex's old mining claim, and in doing so, he finds two lollipop wrappers, as well as an opal hidden under lots of rock inside the tunnel. Ashmol takes the opal back to Kellyanne and breaks the news to her that he has found them, and that they are dead. Kellyanne, whose sickness has been worsening, has to go to hospital and Ashmol organises a funeral for Pobby and Dingan, using the opal to pay for it. When Rex's trial come near Ashmol suggests a lawyer who is also a friend of his. Rex wins the trial, and the town begins to feel that their own negativity toward Kellyanne and her family may have contributed to her sickness.
The funeral of Pobby and Dingan takes place, with many people attending. Kellyanne, though still sick, attends the funeral and throws lollipops into her imaginary friends' graves. The funeral seems symbolic of Kellyanne's own sickness; indeed, a short time later, Kellyanne too dies from her sickness, and is buried between her imaginary friends. We see Ashmol visiting her grave, and find that Rex has his claim back, and Ashmol finally gets to go down the mine with him.
Ending
In the original release of the film, the death of Kellyanne was not shown; after Pobby and Dingan's funeral, the screen fades to white, and the film ends. It was cut against the wishes of the director and crew[1], but did air uncut and as originally intended when shown on BBC Two in 2008.
Reaction
The film has had some early critical success at various international film festivals, including the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival and the 2006 Melbourne International Film Festival. With 32 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes rates the film at 69% (22 fresh, 10 rotten), giving an overall "fresh" rating.[2]
The film was commercially released on Amazon in 2007, and is available as region 1 and 2 DVDs.
References
See also
External links
