The Water Diviner

The Water Diviner

Teaser poster
Directed by Russell Crowe
Produced by
  • Troy Lum
  • Andrew Mason
  • Keith Rodger
Written by
Starring
Music by David Hirschfelder
Cinematography Andrew Lesnie
Edited by Matt Villa
Production
company
  • Fear of God Films
  • Hopscotch Features
  • Seven Network
  • RatPac Entertainment
Distributed by
Release dates
  • December 26, 2014 (Australia/Turkey)
  • April 24, 2015 (United States)
Running time
 111 minutes[1]
Country
  • Australia
  • Turkey
  • United States
Language
  • English
  • Turkish
Budget $22.5 million[2]
Box office $25.9 million[3]

The Water Diviner (or Last Hope) is a 2014 Australian historical fictional drama film directed by Russell Crowe. The screenplay, written by Andrew Anastasios and Andrew Knight, is based on the book of the same name, written by Andrew Anastasios and Dr Meaghan Wilson-Anastasios.

The film stars Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney, Cem Yılmaz, and Yılmaz Erdoğan. The Water Diviner had its world premiere at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia on December 2, 2014.[4] It opened in Australian and New Zealand cinemas on December 26, 2014. The film had a limited release in the United States on April 24, 2015.

It was the final film from Academy Award-winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, who passed away in April 2015, a week after the film's U.S. release.

Plot

The film opens in 1919, just after World War I has ended. Joshua Connor (Russell Crowe), an Australian farmer and water diviner, has located ground water on his land and is digging a well. Connor's three sons Arthur, Edward (James Fraser), and Henry (Ben O'Toole) served with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) at the Battle of Gallipoli five years previously and are presumed dead. Connor's wife, Eliza (Jacqueline McKenzie), unable to cope with her grief, commits suicide. Connor promises to bring his sons' bodies home and bury them with their mother.

Connor travels to Turkey and stays in a hotel in Istanbul run by war-widowed Ayshe (Olga Kurylenko). When Connor contacts the British consul and is told that Gallipoli, where his sons were killed, is off limits. Joshua grows closer to Ayshe's son, Orhan (Dylan Georgiades). Ayshe warms to the Australian after learning why he is in Turkey. She suggests he bribe a local fisherman to take him to Gallipoli by boat. Connor arrives in Gallipoli where he meets more resistance. The ANZACs are engaged in a mass burial detail and all civilians are banned. Major Hasan (Yılmaz Erdoğan), a Turkish officer assisting the ANZACs, persuades the ANZAC captain Lt-Col Cyril Hughes (Jai Courtney) to prioritize helping Connor with his search.

Flashbacks revealed that Arthur was injured while returning to his trench. When Henry and Edward ran to his rescue, Henry was killed and Edward badly wounded. Connor walks the battlefield and locates where they were gunned down. The soldiers uncover bodies, and Connor sees skulls with bullet holes. An ANZAC sergeant implies that Major Hasan, who oversaw the defense in the area, ordered all casualties to be executed. Connor attempts to assault Hasan but is stopped. Hasan recognizes Connor's surname and tells him that Arthur may have been taken prisoner.

Joshua returns to Istanbul to learn which prison camp Arthur was transferred to, but is unsuccessful. The British Consul tells him he is being deported for having traveled to Gallipoli. Connor returns to Ayshe's hotel. Her brother-in-law, Omer, is pressing her to marry him but she says she needs more time to decide. He loses patience and tells Orhan that his father was killed in the war. An angry Ayshe slaps him, and he attacks her; Connor intervenes and Omer angrily retreats. Ayshe lashes out, blaming Connor for making things worse and tells him to leave. As Connor leaves the hotel, Omer and a few of his friends gang up on him, only to be stopped by Hasan's subordinate, Sergeant Jemal (Cem Yılmaz). Jemal takes Connor to Hasan, who explains that the Greeks have invaded and they are going to defend their country as the British are not intervening. Connor realizes they will be passing through the region where his son might be. He returns to the hotel to retrieve his bag; Ayshe apologizes for her earlier words. As the British come to escort Joshua back to Australia, he sneaks out and goes to Hasan.

Greek soldiers attack the train and only Jemal, Hasan and Connor survive. Connor saves Hasan as a Greek officer prepares to execute him and Jemal. They flee to a town where they spot a windmill, which Joshua saw in his recurring dream. There he finds Arthur alive but badly traumatized. Arthur reveals that at the end of the battle, Henry lay bleeding in agony for hours pleading for Arthur to end his suffering. Arthur reached for Edward's rifle and shot Henry. Believing he caused his brother's deaths, Arthur felt he could never return to his family.

Greeks attack the town, and the two men escape through the mountains. Wracked with guilt, Arthur refuses to follow his father, but relents when Connor says that without his son, he has nowhere to go. They successfully evade the Greek army and return to Ayshe's hotel. The film ends with Ayshe making coffee for Connor — indicating she has fallen for him.

Cast

Production

On June 18, 2013, it was announced that Crowe had signed to make his directorial debut with an historical drama film The Water Diviner from a screenplay written by Andrew Knight and Andrew Anastasios. He would also star in the film.[8] Producers would be Troy Lum, Andrew Mason and Keith Rodger and it was set to be shot in Australia and Turkey.[5] On March 25, 2014, it was announced that Seven West Media and Seven Group Holdings would co-finance the film.[9] On November 7, 2014, Warner Bros. acquired the US rights to the film.[10]

Casting

Crowe portrays Joshua Connor, an Australian farmer. Olga Kurylenko was added to the cast on October 18, 2013 to co-star with Crowe.[6] On 24 October Jai Courtney signed to star in two historical films Unbroken and The Water Diviner. Courtney first starred in Unbroken and then moved to The Water Diviner, to portray a soldier, Lt. Col. Cecil Hilton.[7] Later, Turkish actors Cem Yılmaz and Yılmaz Erdoğan were also added to the cast, along with some Australian actors: Ryan Corr, Daniel Wyllie, Damon Herriman, Deniz Akdeniz, Steve Bastoni and Jacqueline McKenzie.[11]

Filming

Principal photography began on December 2, 2013 in Australia.[11]

Marketing

On February 1, 2014, the first official still from the film was revealed.[12] On April 28, the first footage from the film in a 7-minute featurette, narrated by Crowe, was revealed.[13] The first official trailer for the film was released on September 30.[14]

Release

The film was released in Australia, New Zealand and Turkey on December 26, 2014, while it was released in Thailand on January 15, 2015.[15] The film was initially to be released in the UK on January 23, 2015 but was moved to April 3.[16] The film was released in IMAX theaters by Warner Bros. in the United States for a limited release on April 24, 2015.[10][17] Entertainment One and Universal Studios jointly released the film in Australia, with Universal solely releasing the film in Europe and Canada.[9]

The film made its free-to-air television premiere on the Seven Network in Australia on April 20, 2015, a mere four months after its theatrical release in Australia. Seven is an investor in the film.[18]

Reception

Critical response

The Water Diviner has received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 60%, based on 116 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The site's consensus reads, "The Water Diviner finds Russell Crowe on somewhat uncertain footing as a director, but he's rescued by a strong performance from himself in the leading role."[19] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 50 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[20]

Armenian genocide controversy

The movie drew criticism in the U.S. as it was released on the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian Genocide while the film itself failed to mention the genocide at all. Salon accused the film of historical white-washing.[21] TheWrap published an op-ed from directors Garin Hovannisian and Alec Mouhibian who called the movie "the highest profile piece of propaganda ever produced in the service of genocide denial."[22]

Box office

As of April 30, 2015, The Water Diviner has grossed $25.9 million.[3]

On January 5, 2015 it was named the highest grossing Australian-produced film of 2014, with a gross of $5.65 million.[23] However, in the UK this film was stopped being screened in many cinemas after just one week of being released.

Turkey

The film was received very favorably in Turkey at its debut and subsequent release.[24]

Accolades

Award Category Subject Result
AACTA Awards
(4th)		 Best Film1 Andrew Mason Won
Troy Lum Won
Keith Rodger Won
Best Original Screenplay Andrew Anastasios Nominated
Andrew Knight Nominated
Best Actor Russell Crowe Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Yılmaz Erdoğan Won
Best Supporting Actress Jacqueline McKenzie Nominated
Best Editing Matt Villa Nominated
Best Production Design Christopher Kennedy Nominated
Best Costume Design Tess Schofield Won
Best Visual Effects David Booth Nominated
Prue Fletcher Nominated
Marc Varisco Nominated
Adam Paschke Nominated

1 Shared award with The Babadook

References

  1. ↑ "THE WATER DIVINER (15)". British Board of Film Classification. February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  2. ↑ http://variety.com/2015/scene/vpage/russell-crowe-water-diviner-opening-1201474692/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The Water Diviner (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2015-04-30.
  4. ↑ Sams, Christine (2 December 2014). "The Water Diviner premiered in Sydney with Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney and Megan Gale". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fleming, Mike (18 June 2013). "Russell Crowe Sets ‘The Water Diviner’ For Directing Debut". deadline.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 McNary, Dave (18 October 2013). "Olga Kurylenko Joins Russell Crowe In ‘Water Diviner’". variety.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fleming, Mike (24 October 2013). "Jai Courtney Tapped For Angelina Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’, Russell Crowe’s ‘Water Diviner’". deadline.com. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Anderton, Ethan (June 18, 2013). "Russell Crowe Plans Directorial Debut in Period Drama 'Water Diviner'". firstshowing.net. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Frater, Patrick (25 March 2014). "Seven Finds Russell Crowe’s ‘Water Diviner’". variety.com. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kit, Borys (November 7, 2014). "Warner Bros. Picks Up Russell Crowe's Historical Drama 'Water Diviner'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Russell Crowe to start shooting Gallipoli film The Water Diviner in Sydney". news.com.au. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  12. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (February 1, 2014). "First Image: Russell Crowe’s Helming Debut ‘The Water Diviner’". variety.com. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  13. ↑ Anderton, Ethan (April 28, 2014). "Footage from Russell Crowe's 'The Water Diviner' in First Featurette". firstshowing.net. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  14. ↑ Anderton, Ethan (September 30, 2014). "Russell Crowe's Directorial Debut 'The Water Diviner' Aussie Trailer". firstshowing.net. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  15. ↑ "The Water Diviner (2014) - Release Info - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  16. ↑ "Russell Crowe is Looking for his Sons in The Water Diviner". filmtronic. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
  17. ↑ Bowles, Scott (March 20, 2015). "Russell Crowe’s ‘The Water Diviner’ Also Will Screen In Imax – Update". deadline.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (April 13, 2015). "Water Diviner world TV premiere on Seven". TV Tonight. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ "The Water Diviner". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  20. ↑ "The Water Diviner". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  21. ↑ O'HEHIR, ANDREW. "What Armenian genocide? “The Water Diviner,” Russell Crowe’s disgraceful Turkish fantasy". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. ↑ Hovannisian, Garin; Mouhibian, Alec. "Directors Slam Russell Crowe’s ‘Water Diviner’ Over Armenian Genocide Denial (Guest Blog)". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  23. ↑
  24. ↑ Andrew Anastasios (6 December 2014). "The water Diviner". Retrieved 29 December 2014.

External links