Babyteeth (film)

Babyteeth is a 2019 Australian coming-of-age comedy-drama[3] film directed by Shannon Murphy from a screenplay by Rita Kalnejais, based upon her stage play of the same name. It stars Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Emily Barclay, Eugene Gilfedder, Essie Davis and Ben Mendelsohn. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 4 September 2019. It was released in Australia on 23 July 2020 by Universal Pictures. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Babyteeth
Official release poster
Directed byShannon Murphy
Produced byAlex White
Screenplay byRita Kalnejais
Based onBabyteeth
by Rita Kalnejais
Starring
Music byAmanda Brown
CinematographyAndrew Commis
Edited byStephen Evans
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • 4 September 2019 (2019-09-04) (Venice)
  • 23 July 2020 (2020-07-23) (Australia)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$198,246[1][2]

Premise

Milla, a seriously ill teenager, falls in love with a smalltime drug dealer, Moses, her parents' worst nightmare.

Cast

Release

Babyteeth had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2019, where it competed for the Golden Lion.[4][5] It also screened at the BFI London Film Festival on 6 October 2019, where it competed in the First Feature Competition.[6] Shortly after, IFC Films and Picturehouse Entertainment acquired US and UK distribution rights to the film, respectively.[7][8]

The film was released in the United States on 19 June 2020,[9] and in Australia on 23 July 2020 by Universal Pictures.[10][11][12]

Reception

Babyteeth received positive reviews from film critics.[13] As of July 2020, 92% of the 100 reviews compiled by review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with a weighted average of 7.62/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Powerfully acted and sensitively directed, Babyteeth offers audiences a coming-of-age story that's messier – and more rewarding – than most."[14] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film "B+", calling it "a movie that's off-kilter but always raw; delicate, but never precious".[16] Variety's Guy Lodge describes it as an "arresting feature debut for both director Shannon Murphy and screenwriter Rita Kalnejais".[3] Michael O'Sullivan of the Houston Chronicle praised Babyteeth, stating that it "works precisely because it refuses to accommodate expectation."[17]

Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film five stars and described it as an "emotionally shattering feature debut from Shannon Murphy".[18]

Awards

Toby Wallace was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress at the 76th Venice International Film Festival for his portrayal of Moses.[19][12] The film also won four collateral awards at the festival:[20]

  • Fanheart3 Awards: Silver Ship for best OTP (One True Pairing) to Milla/Moses
  • SIGNIS Award by SIGNIS International (World Catholic Association for Communication)
  • Adele and Christopher Smithers Award by the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation
  • Premio Soundtrack Stars Award: Special Jury Prize

References
  1. "Babyteeth (2020)". The Numbers. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. "Babyteeth". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  3. Lodge, Guy (4 September 2019). "Film Review: 'Babyteeth'". Variety. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. "Venezia 76 Competition". labiennale.org. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. Vivarelli, Nick (25 July 2019). "Joker, Ad Astra, The Laundromat, Marriage Story to Compete in Venice". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. "Babyteeth". bfi.org.uk. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  7. McNary, Dave (15 October 2019). "Eliza Scanlen Drama 'Babyteeth' Lands at IFC for North America". Variety. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  8. Dalton, Ben (4 October 2019). "Picturehouse Entertainment acquires Venice Competition title 'Babyteeth' for UK". Screen Daily. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  9. "Babyteeth". IFC Films. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  10. Groves, Don (1 June 2020). "Universal sets release dates for 'Babyteeth' and 'Slim & I'". IF.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  11. Straker, Damien (29 August 2019). "BABYTEETH – Trailer, Synopsis, and Poster". ImpulseGamer.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  12. York, Keva (21 July 2020). "Australian film Babyteeth stars Eliza Scanlen in bittersweet tale of first love soured by sickness". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  13. Groves, Don (5 September 2019). "Shannon Murphy's 'Babyteeth' wows the critics in Venice". InsideFilm. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  14. "Babyteeth (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  15. "Babyteeth Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  16. Ehrlich, David (4 September 2019). "'Babyteeth' Review: Eliza Scanlen Leads Vibrant and Touching Australian Cancer Drama". IndieWire. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  17. O'Sullivan, Michael (19 June 2020). "Moving yet unsentimental Aussie film 'Babyteeth' is worth your time". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  18. Maher, Kevin. "Babyteeth review — an emotionally shattering feature debut from Shannon Murphy". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  19. "Official Awards of the 76th Venice Film Festival". labiennale.org. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  20. "Biennale Cinema 2019 | Collateral Awards of the 76th Venice Film Festival". La Biennale di Venezia. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
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