These characters have lived before the opening credits, and they will live past the fade to black. Where they go is up to them.

| Feb 20, 2024

This beautifully understated feature (2004) revolves around sex, but it’s neither erotic nor puritanical; its young characters are governed by their urges, but the experience itself seems as neutral and mysterious as sleep.

| Jul 14, 2022

[Director Cate] Shortland manages to express Heidi's inner journey in a very powerful way. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 9, 2020

The film is also a bold, visionary artistic statement from Cate Shortland.

| Original Score: 2.5/4.0 | Sep 23, 2020

Though the movie itself can be a bit of a riddle, Cornish comes up with her own powerful statement about the fragility of youth.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 15, 2020

Somersault isn't simply sensitive to the mindset of its protagonist, but rather adopts the character's yearning, searching, testing and experimenting mood as its own.

| Jul 20, 2018

Newcomer Abbie Cornish is a revelation of empathy and dramatic transparency in a role riddled with moral landmines.

| Original Score: B+ | Apr 15, 2009

A psychological drama that registered with audiences and critics alike because of its heartfelt painful story.

| Original Score: B | Jan 13, 2009

| Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 7, 2007

A well-wrought if modest movie that lingers with you longer than many more ambitious pictures.

| Feb 22, 2007

Generous and authentic.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2006

Pretty slow and predictable, and filled with soap opera-like plot contrivances.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 16, 2006

Moves with all of the sluggish energy of stop-and-go traffic during rush hour. It just keeps marking time until Heidi has another brief sexual encounter with some new guy.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 9, 2006

An incisive and emotive account of a girl masquerading as a woman, and the danger that entails.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 9, 2006

How a down-to-earth country like Australia grew so attached to the pretentious Somersault, I have no idea.

| Original Score: C | Jun 6, 2006

The 'free spirited innocent' archetype doesn't convincingly share residence with this numbly sexual Lolita.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | May 31, 2006

This is an honest movie that should, but probably won't, be seen by the tweenie crowd.

| Original Score: B+ | May 27, 2006

It is pretty, and it stays just left of the dial of darlingness, and Cornish's is the most goddamn, gosh-wow debut I've seen in years.

| Original Score: 3/5 | May 27, 2006

She may be promiscuous, but she's a stronger person than Joe and a better person than all the men in the movie put together. I was impressed with Abbie Cornish's performance.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 26, 2006

[Cornish] creates a character who pulls us in and makes us recoil all at once.

| Original Score: B+ | May 25, 2006