Till Human Voices Wake Us

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Till Human Voices Wake Us is an Australian film directed by Michael Petroni (Queen of the Damned), starring Guy Pearce (Memento, Ravenous, L.A. Confidential) and Helena Bonham Carter (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fight Club). The 2002 film received praise for its uniqueness and was described by The Empire Magazine as "a beautiful film that might become a classic".

[edit] Synopsis

The film begins with the story of a young 15 year old boy, Sam Franks who has returned from a Melbourne boarding school, to his hometown in Victoria. He has an obvious affection towards a young local girl, Silvy who has a disability refraining her legs from walking freely, but having leg braces to support them. This, however does not stop the two friends from enjoying each others' company, and they are virtually inseparable. Sam's mother has died, and his stern father provides the young boy with little comfort and love, so his relationship with Silvy is all that matters to him. She reads to him regularly, out of her beloved poetry book, showing him a world of beauty and harmony within words, that he comes to enjoy. One night, the two decide to go for a ride anywhere, and end up at the popular lake. Sam jumps in the water and removes Silvy's leg braces, and together they "dance" in the water. They share a kiss and stare into the stars--everything seems perfect for the two. Suddenly Sam lets go of Silvy's hand to point to a shooting star. After closing his eyes and making a wish, he looks around to find Silvy no longer with him. Frantically searching beneath the tide-pulling water, Sam returns to Silvy's home to tell of the terrible happening. Her body is not found for years, and when it is, it's discovered under a cave beneath the water. 20 years later, 35 year old Sam (Guy Pearce) teaches psychology at a Melbourne institute, when he must return to his hometown to bury his recently deceased father. On the train, Sam briefly meets a pleasant woman who introduces herself as Ruby (Helena Bonham Carter). Sam leaves to talk to the train attendant about his cargo, and when he returns, the woman is nowhere to be seen. That night, in a massive downpour, Sam sees a woman fall from the bridge, into the lake below. After rescuing the woman, he recognizes her as the lady, Ruby, from the train. She, however, has lost her memory and can't even remember her own name. As the movie continues on, she does and says some strange things that lead Sam to believe that this is his childhood friend, Silvy. He hypnotizes her and she recalls being pulled lower and lower beneath cold and feeling panic, then warm and comfortable. Somehow Silvy has come back from her death in the form of this woman. The next day, she asks to be taken to her real home. Sam carries her, as her legs are failing her once more; he senses that she will not be with him much longer. Safe and warm in her own bed, Sam reads her the last few lines from her favorite poem (T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock), "Till human voices wake us, and we drown." She finally passes, with a smile on her lips. Sam places her in a boat and releases it into the lake. He swims with it, and when he looks into it, all that remains is his coat that she was wearing. He climbs into the boat as it drifts away. The film ends with the sight of the boat traveling down the lake.