In their element - "Submerge" dir. Sophie O'Connor

One of Australia's first commercially released lesbian feature film moves from Festival release to DVD and digital release (release date 1 March 2014).

After making a splash on the international film festival circuit, Australian film SUBMERGE is finally set for its general release, joining Emma-Kate Croghan’s 1996 Love and Other Catastrophes as only the second Australian lesbian feature film to attain commercial release. 

The film has already drawn praise around the globe, having screened at 27 film festivals in 18 countries across four continents, with lead actress Lily Hall securing awards from both FilmOut San Diego and Downtown Film Festival L.A. for Best Actress in a Feature Film. 

The feature film debut of both producer Kat Holmes and director Sophie O’Connor (MIFF 2008 Award Winner), SUBMERGE is grounded in the story of protagonist Jordan (Lily Hall, Neighbours), a 20 year old honours student and elite swimmer. Jordan is caught up in building her own success story, carefully negotiating the rigors of study and the expectations of her ambitious mother (Kath Gordon The Playbook, Prisoner); all while maintaining an active social life, flanked by her best friend Lucas (Kevin Dee Underbelly, Strange Bedfellows). 

SUBMERGE delivers an unflinching exploration of the desire for instant gratification in a consumerist world full of choice. When Jordan finds herself falling for her tutor Angie (Christina Hallett Burlesque) – who just so happens to be the partner of her history lecturer, Cameron (Andrew Curry Conspiracy 365, The Cup) – she is unable to stop herself from pursuing a liaison. A narrative of experimentation and the search for the self, the story follows the dizzying highs and heart-wrenching lows as Jordan attempts to reconcile the chaos of youth with her ambition to succeed. As the attraction between her and Angie becomes ever more intense, failure is not an option, but how far is Jordan willing to go to get what she wants?

 

SUBMERGE’s soundtrack is naturally as diverse and evocative in tone and emotion as the film. Each track painstakingly handpicked by director Sophie O’Connor and music supervisor Andrew Penhallow, the soundtrack boasts a spectrum of some of Australia’s best and brightest independent musicians (Falling Joys, Asian Envy, Tokyo Denmark Sweden), a fitting underscoring of the many moods and tones of the film. SUBMERGE has also been drawing attention for its depiction of alternative representations of sexuality in a positive light, blurring the rigidity of labels and stereotypes and distilling this into something realistic and raw, offering a wide-eyed depiction of the fluidity and unpredictability of human sexuality. It’s a bold, challenging representation that strives to challenge perceptions and dominant stereotypes – SUBMERGE pulls no punches about pushing boundaries.

“[SUBMERGE is] a postmodern story, told through different lenses, reflections and refractions. Self-awareness and self-judgment is a key theme - the modern human condition - as is the exploration of what it takes to break through the surface and SUBMERGE into emotional depth.”
Planet London

SUBMERGE will be available on DVD and iTunes/Google Play in the UK from 1 March, 2014.

Read the full Planet London review: http://planetlondononfilm.blogspot.com/2013/03/llgff-submerge.html 

http://www.submergethemovie.com/submergethemovie.html 

#LLGFF: Submerge

Dir. Sophie O'Connor
Writer: Kat Holmes

Set in Melbourne, swimmer and student Jordan, with Olympic hopes, is your girl next door lesbian, at ease with her sexual orientation and enjoying her young adult life - athough at times she struggles to stay afloat in her highly pressurised drive for success in both swimming and academia - often at conflict with each other.

As her desire for a potential career in history academia grows, so does her passion for her tutor, the Professor's beautiful wife Angie. Her new interests distract Jordan from her rigorous swimming training routine, as dictated by her enthusiastic parents, but also give Jordan a chance to explore taking control of her own life and her own feelings. There is clear chemistry between Angie and Jordan and creates a genuine support for their relationship to develop.

When things don't work out as she wanted in her risky new interests, Jordon starts on a path of self desruction that threaten to leave her with nothing and having to move back home to her parents. We are taken from the pool and student life to the darker side of LGBT sub culture, S&M, drugs and sexual liberation are treated with respect and not just an excuse to bring sex into the storyline.

It's a postmodern story, told through different lenses, reflections and refractions. Self awareness and self judgement is a key theme - the modern human condition - as is the exploration of what it takes to break through the surface and submerge into emotional depth.

submerge took  nine years to go from script to screen. It's one of the first Lesbian Australian features ever, and persevered to actuality through no financing (it was shot in 2 stages as the producers rallied for the cash to make it happen, thank goodness for a patient talent and crew) and a growing global lesbian media presence.

There is no distrubtor currently. submerge will  travel the festival circuit and use social media promotion to spread the word. It's definitely worth a view and worth of the support of the community to increase its visibility.

By Katie