Films A to Z
Razzle Dazzle
- Runtime:
- 88 min.
- Year of Production:
- 2006
- Country:
- Australien
- Director:
- Cast:
- Kerry Armstrong
Ben Miller
Nadine Garner
Denise Roberts
Tara Morice
Jane Hall
Toni Lamond
Barry Crocker
Noeline Brown
Scott Irwin
Damon Gameau
Andrew McFarlane
Steve Le Marquand
Roy Billing
Susie Lindeman
Paul Mercurio
Leo Sayer
Shayni Notelovitz
Clancy Ryan
Sheridan Rynne
Kerry-Ann Thoo - Production Company:
- Wild Eddie Films
- Berlinale Section:
- Generation
- Berlinale Category:
- Feature Film
The atmosphere is tense and stage-fright has gripped all those taking part in Australia's most important dance competition, the "Sanosafe Troupe Spectacular", in which only the country's top dance schools can take part. Five-fold champion Miss Elizabeth is openly confident that she will lead her Talent Academy to victory and is employing a mixture of regimented weighins, public humiliation and fake praise to make sure they defend their place. Some have been known to call her teaching methods outrageous; unperturbed, she continues to run her school with an iron fist. Miss Elizabeth takes orders from no-one. However, at another dance school not far away, Mr Jonathon is busy training his eleven protégés for the big competition. Mr Jonathon is a man with a vision; he doesn't only want to entertain, he sees his choreography as an art form that could change the world. There's simply too much injustice in our lives, he believes, and finds it impossible to turn his back on the oppression and violence he sees everywhere. At last, the great day dawns. The finalists are all on edge. The hall is packed to the rafters. The moment of truth has arrived. Will Miss Elizabeth walk away with the title for the sixth time, or will Mr Jonathon make it? He and his pupils have rehearsed a particularly inspiring piece - about the emancipation of women in Afghanistan.
BIOGRAFIE Darren Ashton
Known in commercials for his comedic work, Darren has won numerous awards including the London International Advertising Award, New York Advertising Award, Singapore Advertising Award as well as receiving numerous Cannes nominations.
Darren transitioned to feature films through the short film genre with The Extra, which won the “best short film award” at various festivals. It also won second prize at Sydney’s Tropfest and received two nominations at the AFI’s (Australian Film Industry awards) - for Best Short Film and Best Editing.
Darren co-wrote and directed his first feature film Thunderstruck which was the story of four boys who made a pact to bury their best friend next to AC/DC original frontman Bon Scott. The film was distributed by Icon in 2005.
Inspired by his daughters dance classes, Darren, along with writer Carolyn Wilson devised a story about pushy stage mothers and dance competitions. In 2007 this became the basis of Darren’s second film - Razzle Dazzle - starring Australian actress, Kerry Armstrong and UK comic Ben Miller.
-darrenashton.com
FILMOGRAFIE Darren Ashton (selection)
2006 Razzle Dazzle