Sarah Legg in Cherubhead.
The pieces are in place.
The game is set.
Only one will emerge victorious.
Anyone for tea?
A visionary debut from then 19-year-old writer-director-actor Sarah Legg and starring last year’s Australian Idol sensation Angelina Curtis, Cherubhead is one of the more offbeat and ambitious micro-budget films ever made in this country, and now it’s available to rent or buy on Digital and Disc.
A loose adaptation of ‘The Prince’ by Niccolo Machiavelli (yes, *that* Machiavelli), Cherubhead is set on a remote homestead where aloof socialite Marie Annette (Legg) adopts young women into her home to mould in her own refined image, the latest being Ellie (Curtis), an innocent, impressionable orphan. But when Sophie (Nicola Kinnane), a past adoptee with a possible axe to grind, arrives with the apparent intention of monitoring Marie Annette’s activities for the government, things get tense… and head south, real quick. Who’s playing who?
Take the challenge! Click for details.
Shot in rural WA on a budget of under $3,000(!), Legg wrote the film over a month at the end of 2020, before going into production shortly after. She used her own home as the primary location, while also shooting scenes at an Airbnb and family farm in the area, enlisting a cast and crew of volunteers to make the film — citing the biggest challenge as filling the character of Boris, Ellie’s pet rat (yes, a rat plays a key role). “Our rat passed of cancer two days before shooting and we had to scramble to find a replacement,” she said. “Even when we did, getting a rat to run in a certain direction is definitely a pain.” Reflecting on her experience, Legg said working on a tight budget was both an obstacle and a blessing in disguise. “[It was difficult] deciding what to invest our money into to make the film pop and give it the specific look and feel that we wanted,” she said. “However, it also made us learn how to solve problems with our creativity and the tools we had, not money. I’m grateful we acquired these skills from our first film.” [a]
Blackly comic and visually lush, Cherubhead is now available to rent or buy on digital platforms and to own on disc:
DIGITAL
Vimeo On Demand: Rent or Buy at Vimeo
YouTube Movies: Rent or Buy at YouTube Movies
Amazon: Rent or Buy at Prime Video
Google Play: Rent or Buy at Google Play Movies
DISC
Amazon AU: Buy on Blu-ray and DVD at Amazon
Walmart: Buy on Blu-ray and DVD at Walmart
Barnes & Noble: Buy on Blu-ray and DVD at Barnes & Noble
If you enjoyed this feature as much as I loved publishing it, please consider supporting Cinema Australia’s commitment to the Australian screen industry via a donation below.
I strive to shine a light on Australian movies, giving voice to emerging talent and established artists.
This important work is made possible through the support of Cinema Australia readers. Without corporate interests or paywalls, Cinema Australia is committed to remaining free to read, watch and listen to, always.
If you can, please consider making a contribution. It takes less than a minute, and your support will make a significant impact in sustaining Cinema Australia as the much-loved publication that it is.
Thank you.
Matthew Eeles
Founder and Editor.
Make a donation here.
Cinema Australia 