For everyone Film review: Sunflower

Melbourne filmmaker Gabriel Carrubba’s deeply affecting debut feature, Sunflower, is shot in and around the haunts of Berwick, the south-eastern suburb where he grew up. That includes the high school where he faced homophobic bullying on top of the standard teenage struggle to find your place in this world.

Generously bearing those fledgling wounds onscreen, he casts gifted Italian-Australian Liam Mollica (Nowhere Boys) as a stand-in for himself, Leo. Feeling more than he wants to for rough-housing best mate Boof (Luke J Morgan) and resisting his nudges in the direction of Olivia Fildes’ admiring Monique, this heady brew of hormones and house party indulgence draws the ire of Boof’s gruff big brother Derek (Of an Age actor Elias Anton).

But, even as Leo’s world blows up, the calamitous fallout opens new doors.

Luminously framed by cinematographer Martine Wolff, this gorgeous film lights up the dark nights still faced by too many queer teens.