The Year My Voice Broke (1987)

93% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
83% of users liked it
(633 ratings)

The life of a teen in an isolated small town is the subject of Australian writer/director John Duigan's film, set in 1962 in New South Wales. Duigan's coming-of-age story has many familiar elements -- Danny Embling (Noah Taylor) discovers his sexual attraction to a childhood playmate (Leone Carmen… More The life of a teen in an isolated small town is the subject of Australian writer/director John Duigan's film, set in 1962 in New South Wales. Duigan's coming-of-age story has many familiar elements -- Danny Embling (Noah Taylor) discovers his sexual attraction to a childhood playmate (Leone Carmen as Freya), he undergoes the taunts of bullies at his school, rages against the narrow-minded views of his parents and many of the townspeople, and comes under the influence of a sympathetic adult (Bruce Spence as Jonah, a would-be writer who lives in an abandoned railroad car). The twist is that Danny's rival for Freya's affections, Trevor (Ben Mendelsohn), is a Jewish jock who becomes Danny's friend by standing up to the bullies and treating Freya with more respect than the other boys do. Duigan, who had been making films in Australia since the mid-'70s, broke through to U.S. audiences with this film and its sequel, Flirting, in which Noah Taylor reprises the lead role. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: John Duigan
Written By: John Duigan
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Oct 17, 1987 Limited
On DVD: Feb 8, 2000

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
The characters are memorable ones, and beautifully played by the three young newcomers, with Noah Taylor especially effective as the lovesick Danny.
Caryn James, New York Times
It is so pleasant and unpretentious that we can almost forget the total lack of surprise in this deftly acted Australian film.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Although most of this is rather familiar stuff...the treatment is sufficiently sincere and nuanced to give it a touch of poignancy.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
This isn't an adolescent wish-fulfillment fantasy, so the impossible never happens, and it's a credit to the movie that it doesn't.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
This funny, touching, truthful gem of a film is one of the ongoing pleasures of Australian cinema, and is as fresh and compelling on its 21st anniversary as it was on its acclaimed release
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though it covers familiar territory, this well-acted, skillfully photographed film is a gentle examination of the rites of passage.
, Time Out
A film to restore one's faith in films about the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Wonderful, perceptive, and original Australian film about the magic and anguish of adolescence.
, Film4
Duigan's gift for characterization and feel for period give the film its haunting and evocative mood, and hint at something altogether darker than the average teen flick.
Shannon J. Harvey, Sunday Times (Australia)
Bittersweet Australian coming-of-age tale
Scott Renshaw, Apollo Guide
It's solid, involving and uncomfortably familiar -- another good, but not great, coming-of-age drama.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Nice effort from Duigan, and a smashing introduction by Noah Taylor, who would fly so high in Shine.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Quinto W

I love coming-of-age and both Noah Taylor and Loene Carmen's longing for people they can never truly have is something we can all identify with and feel their pain.
Leo L

A good movie.