FILM PITCH

Nine Parts Water: The novel

In a world where children are taken from their parents, and people are separated from their homeland, to survive is a miracle; to belong is a luxury.

In the Eighties, Cal Brodie was the next-big-thing in women’s surfing. Twenty years later, she returns to her childhood home in Tungalla Bay and faces some difficult truths. Meanwhile, Hassan, a young man from Afghanistan who is on the run from immigration, also finds himself in Tungalla Bay, where his life intersects with the beautiful but troubled Nina — Cal’s surfing protegee. Nina wants to surf. Hassan wants to play soccer. Cal just wants to be left alone. But life is rarely so simple.

This is a story about growing up in a small town that is getting bigger; and a large world that is getting smaller. It is a timely and uncompromising examination of what it means to be Australian and who has the right to call it home.

Nine Parts Water: THE FILM

A film about surfing and what it means to belong…

Hardman has turned her impressive debut novel into a script that is spare and visually rich. This is so superbly shot that at times it seems the ocean itself is a protagonist, full of danger, mystery and beauty.

The film of Nine Parts Water maintains the compelling narrative tension of the novel, with three simple storylines intertwining to create a powerful landscape of characters and relationships: a teenage girl’s search for identity; a woman struggling with guilt and illness; and a young man’s fight for survival.

Hardman found inspiration for her script in classic landscape-infused films like Gerry, Beneath Clouds, High Tide, Dead Heart, Walkabout, Storm Boy and Japanese Story. Deb Cox’s Sea Change and Crashburn were also inspirations. ‘I admire a lot of television writing,’ Hardman says, ‘especially the American series ER, Third Watch, Six Feet Under and Dexter, and the work of Joss Wheddon. They all weave complex character and plot development with snappy dialogue, tight narrative structures and timeless themes. They also take you into a specialised world and immerse you, without explaining too much. I like to be challenged and rewarded as a viewer. I hope that is what the film of Nine Parts Water does.’

Hardman’s script values understatement and pays the viewer the respect of not telling them what to think or feel. ‘I value a certain ambiguity,’ she says. ‘I can’t stand voice overs. If I wanted to read a book, I’d read a book, not go to the cinema. Films are not books.’

‘When I wrote the novel I always knew I would eventually turn it into a film. I studied Robert McKee’s book about scriptwriting (Story) while writing the novel, so I’m not surprised it translated so well to the screen. Of course, having Ivan Sen direct and co-write, and with Dean Semmler doing the cinematography and Rachel Griffiths and Patricia Clarkson in leading roles, how could we go wrong?’ Hardman says modestly.

This is a new Australian story that holds wide appeal. It taps into the Australian psyche on many levels, exploding some sacred Australian stereotypes along the way: water, surfing, history, family and denial. Nine Parts Water’s emotional impact is revealed through beautiful visual storytelling, strong characters and the classic themes of love, redemption and belonging. 10 out of 10.