Mullet is an Australian film released in 2001, written and directed by David Caesar

David Caesar

David Caesar is an Australian television and film director and writer.He grew up in Turlinjah on the south coast of NSW and attended school in nearby Moruya where he was school captain in his senior year....

, and starring Ben Mendelsohn

Ben Mendelsohn

Paul Benjamin "Ben" Mendelsohn is an Australian actor.-Early life:Mendelsohn was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of Carole Ann and Frederick Mendelsohn. He attended Heidelberg Primary School and Banyule High School. His father is a prominent medical researcher who heads the Howard Florey...

, Susie Porter

Susie Porter

Susie Porter is a multiple award winning Australian television and film actress.-Television:Susie Porter began her acting career in one episode of House Gang, a short lived television program. She then had small roles in other Australian television programs in the late 1990s, including Big Sky,...

 and Andrew Gilbert

Andrew S. Gilbert

Andrew S. Gilbert is an Australian actor best known for his AFI Award-winning role in Kiss or Kill and other supporting work in Look Both Ways and The Dish and his recent role as Gavin Braithwaite on the ABC series, Bed of Roses. He is also known for his collaboration with Director David Caesar on...

.

Plot summary

In the film, Eddie (Ben Mendelsohn) returns to his home town on the south coast of New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

. Having left for the city without explanation a few years previously, he tries to pick up the pieces of his life and fit back in to the lives of those he left, including his ex-girlfriend Tully (Susie Porter) and brother Pete (Andrew Gilbert). The title of the film comes from Eddie's nickname and from his attempts to make a living poaching

Poaching

Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...

 mullet

Mullet (fish)

The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times...

.

The film succeeds in a very human portrayal of the difficulties in living on the fringe of a close-knit community. The drama of the developing relationships is supported by very dry comedy (archetypical Australian humour) and detailed but understated design.

Production

The film was based on a short story written by writer-director David Caesar. Caesar and Producer Vincent Sheehan stated that the budget for the film was approximately . However, while shooting was undertaken in four weeks, it was eight years from first concept to completion.

Total box office has been reported as .

Cast

Actor	Character
Ben Mendelsohn	Eddie 'Mullet' Maloney
Susie Porter	Tully
Andrew Gilbert	Peter Maloney
Belinda McClory	Kay
Tony Barry	Col
Kris McQuade	Gwen
Peta Brady	Robbie
Wayne Blair	James
Paul Kelman	Gary
Steve Le Marquand	Jones
Aaron Blabey	Terry
Jim Webb	Big Bloke
Nash Edgerton Nash Edgerton Nash Edgerton is an Australian film director and stuntman.-Life and career:Edgerton was born in Blacktown, New South Wales and is the brother of actor Joel Edgerton....	Winger
Bryan Brown	Publican (voice)

Awards and nominations

AFI Awards

Australian Film Institute Awards

The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award, known as the AACTA Award , is an accolade presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts . The awards recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry and television industry, including directors,...

, 2001

• Nominated: Best Actor
• Nominated: Best Supporting Actor
• Nominated: Best Supporting Actress
• Nominated: Best Director
• Nominated: Best Original Screenplay

Australian Screen Sound Guild, 2001

• Won: Best Achievement in Sound for a Feature Film - Dialogue & ADR Editing

Australian Writers' Guild

AWGIE Awards

The AWGIE Awards is an annual awards ceremony conducted by the Australian Writers' Guild, for excellence in screen, television, stage and radio writing. The awards began in 1967....

, 2001

• Won: Awgie Award - Feature Film - Original

Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, 2001

• Won: Best Screenplay - Original
• Won: Best Supporting Actor - Male
• Nominated: Best Actor - Male
• Nominated: Best Director
• Nominated: Best Film
• Nominated: Best Supporting Actor - Female

Shanghai International Film Festival

Shanghai International Film Festival

The Shanghai International Film Festival , abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia.Along with Tokyo International Film Festival, the SIFF is one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. The first festival was held from October 7 to 14, 1993, and was held biennially until...

, 2001

• Won: Best Director

External links

• Review by John Flaus: An Impressionist Work: Mullet, senses of cinema, 2001, retrieved January 2008
• Official website
• Mullet at the National Film and Sound Archive