by Mark Murton
Directed by: John Duigan
Synopsis: In this sequel to 1987’s The Year My Voice Broke, Danny (Noah Taylor), now an awkward 17-year-old, has been sent away to an all-male boarding school in rural Australia. At a school rugby game he meets Thandiwe (Thandie Newton), a Ugandan-British girl from the all-girl college across the lake. Over the course of the school year, despite the many obstacles in their way, a romance blossoms.
Kitty Cameo: One evening, desperate to see Thandiwe to correct a misunderstanding, Danny risks expulsion by rowing across the lake to the girls’ college. Finding the door locked, and almost caught by one of the teachers who has come out to feed the school cat, Danny climbs up onto the roof of the entrance and from there onto the balcony above. Still unable to gain entrance to the building he climbs out onto a sloping tiled roof outside the girls’ rooms as the teacher continues to call to the brown and white tabby cat, which glories in the name “Rastus.” As Danny inches along the roof ridge he suddenly finds himself confronted by Rastus (who has clearly been boosted into place by someone on the other side of the roof, confirmed by the surprised look on his face).
The cat walks along the roof in front of him, carrying on out of shot as Danny stops by an open window.
Final Mewsings: Cats don’t have much control over what names people give them.
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