Living in rural New South Wales, 27-year-old single mother Rhia is struggling to evade debt collectors and raise three young daughters, Louise, Leanne and Lani. The eldest, and hardened beyond her years, Lou blames Rhia for the departure of her father, who walked out ten months ago and hasn't been seen since. Mother-daughter relations hit bottom when Rhia takes in Doyle, her father-in-law, who is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Doyle turns Lou's initial hostility around with exciting tales of his South Seas adventures. But coursing deepest in his mind are fractured memories of Annie, his late wife, and before long, Doyle sees Annie in Lou and imagines he is courting her all over again.
Eleven-year-old Lou's life was instantly turned upside down when her father walked out on her mother and two sisters. Feeling abandoned, she copes by building a protective shell around her heart – afraid to let anyone hurt her again. Lou blames her mother for her father's departure and refuses to let her get close. However, life suddenly becomes more interesting when her estranged grandfather temporarily moves in to the family's home.
Doyle brings chaos with him, not least because he is ill and befuddled – living largely in the past. In his confused state, Doyle mistakes his granddaughter for his long departed wife, showering her with attention in an attempt to win her affections. Lou, intrigued, plays along with the fantasy, using her bond with Doyle against her mother. As the game progresses, Lou begins to experience genuine care from Doyle. Her tough shell begins to be chipped away and Lou ultimately understands what it is to be loved and to place her trust in adults – in the most unexpected of circumstances.
An intimate, insightful and contemplative slow-paced drama told from a child's point of view; a child taking that step through imagination and affection to discovering a more confident self. With remarkable performances and exceptional naturalism, the film is beautifully shot in and around the cane-growing area of Murwillumbah in northern NSW, the hometown of writer and director Belinda Chayko.
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