Swimming Upstream (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers (WGA):

Anthony Fingleton (autobiography) and
Diane Fingleton (autobiography) ...

Release Date:

27 February 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The pride of a nation. The heart of a champion.

Plot:

The inspirational life story of Australian swimmer, Tony Fingleton.

Plot Keywords:

Shirtless Male | Barechested | Swimming Champion | Father Son Relationship | Speedo

Awards:

4 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Geoffrey Rush	...	Harold Fingleton
Judy Davis	...	Dora Fingleton
Jesse Spencer	...	Tony Fingleton
Tim Draxl	...	John Fingleton
Deborah Kennedy	...	Billie
David Hoflin	...	Harold Fingleton Jr.
Craig Horner	...	Ronald Fingleton
Brittany Byrnes	...	Diane Fingleton
Mitchell Dellevergin	...	Young Tony
Thomas Davidson	...	Young John
Kain O'Keeffe	...	Young Harold Jr.
Robert Quinn	...	Young Ronald
Keeara Byrnes	...	Young Diane
Mark Hembrow	...	Tommy
Simon Burvill-Holmes	...	Brother Campbell

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving alcoholism and domestic abuse.

Runtime:

114 min | Australia:105 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #39346) | Germany:12 | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | New Zealand:M | Singapore:PG | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Milsons Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Upstream Productions Pty. Ltd.

Trivia:

In the movie, Tony competes in the 100-meter backstroke, winning a silver medal at the Empire Games in 1962. In 1962, the Empire Games swimming events were measured in yards, and Tony won silver behind another Australian in the 220-yard event. When he is later told that "your event was today" in reference to the 1964 Olympics, it refers to the 200-meter backstroke -- the 100 wasn't contested in Tokyo.

Quotes:

Dora Fingleton: [about Tony, proudly] Your son's just won the junior championship.
Harold Fingleton: [to John] Wait'll these mugs see what you can do.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Swimming Upstream: The Making of a Champion (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Not So Good Old days

I grew up in Sydney during the 1950's and although my childhood was good it wasn't the "good old days" people like to reminisce about.

This film captures the Australia of the 1950's perfectly.

An insular nation still coming to grips with who it was and where it was going.

As a child I saw men traumatised by the war or the depression; unable to express their feelings and as trapped in their roles as were the women.

Rush and Davies were superb as were the actors who played the children.

What a pity Tony had to escape to the USA. Has anything really changed?

A great little Australian Movie