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Australia 2009
Director: Tony Tilse
Cast: Garry McDonald, David Lyons, Cariba Heine, Tiriel Mora, Gyton Grantley, Indiana Evans
Rating: -
Release Date: 4 November 2009
Running Time: 1 hour 34 minutes
The Movie Review
Caroline Byrne
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A MODEL DAUGHTER
The KILLING
Of CAROLINE BYRNE |
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For most of the time when we encounter a movie claims to be inspired by true story, I guess it'd be wiser to gulp it down with a grain of salt. Best if we just enjoy the stuff on screen for entertainment purpose only. However, this time, this movie coming from Australia is actually telling the accounts surrounding the death of a young model named Caroline Byrne, a spirited girl who died at the notorious suicide spot in Australia, The Gap.
The movie opens in Midnite hours in June 1995, where Caroline's fiancé, Gordon Wood (David Lyons), is terrified over the missing of this 24-year old Caroline. Gordon is frantically running here and there at the Gap fearing that Caroline might have been jumped from the cliff. Claiming to experience sudden telepathic moment with Caroline (Cariba Heine), Gordon instantly drives to the Gap. And when he can't find Caroline, Gordon immediately contacts Caroline's father, Anthony Byrne (Garry McDonald of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)) and her brother, Peter (Rel Hunt). Amidst the chaotic feeling they endure, Gordon manages to spot Caroline's belonging at the bottom of the cliff. Not very long, police comes to the scene and to their horror, they find Caroline's body in a severe condition due to her falling head first.
All evidence leads to Caroline's taking her own life, but her father suspects Gordon Wood as the man who killed her even though police's investigation begs the differ. Months and years pass by and the number of suspects grows larger which also involving Caroline's ex-boyfriend, Andrew Blanchette (Gyton Grantley of The Reef (2010)) and Gordon's boss, Rene Rivkin (Tiriel Mora), a posh and swanky entrepreneur who "loves" men and always surrounded by his pink posse. But in the end, what is actually has happened to Caroline Byrne?
 Gordon Wood explains his innocence
A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne is made-for-TV movie for Channel Ten Australia. Directed by Tony Tilse, the movie is not the first one coming from him pertaining controversial accounts surrounding true incidents... In 2007, there's a movie titled Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback (2007) which made me interested on the case though I was remotely familiar to it. That's why personally, I couldn't help not to compare those two based-on-true-story films. On the whole, Joanne Lees is a more compelling film due to excellent performance from Joanne Froggatt, furthermore there's something about Joanne Lees movie which is more interesting to follow probably because of the screenplay.
Both movies are coming from real sad stories though, nevertheless Caroline Byrne's movie would've been much better had the pacing is faster. Joanne's Lees movie involves much sensationalism and enhanced by good courtroom drama. While A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne relies heavily on the performance of its three main stars: Garry McDonald, David Lyons, Cariba Heine. Both Garry McDonald and Cariba Heine are great in their respective role and we can feel them and relate to them. Interesting to note, that even though this movie does not visualize anything bloody or disturbing, but the brief nude sex scene of Carina Heine and David Lyons may be taken into consideration if you decide it to watch with your young ones. All in all, I don't recommend you to hunt the movie, but I guess for those who are familiar with the Caroline Byrne case which was surrounded by famous Australian names including etiquette educator June Dally-Watkins (Heather Mitchell of Rogue (2007)), Dr. Cindy Pan (Ivy Mak), Tania Zaetta (played by Kylie Watson, the real Kylie Watson) and Kylie Watson (played by Indiana Evans)... Yeah I know it's confusing :-) and it took place in the most notorious suicide spot in New South Wales. Caroline Byrne case is called as "One of Sydney's unsolved crimes" and if you're interested, you might wanna give the movie a look.
You know what..., actually I hope that one day some filmmakers want to do a movie about the savior of The Gap, Don Ritchie... He and his wife apparently have been saving so many live who were initially ready to jump! A good movie about him and his effort would've been a nice additional gesture to remind other people of pure heroism.
© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com
Twitter: @movielogy
posted: Saturday, 22 October 2011 00:05 am
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Home > Drama & Musical Home > A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne (2009)
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