Heart, laughs and a Choirboys banger are three takeaways from the first trailer drop of Runt, the big screen adaptation of Craig Silvey’s beloved kids book of the same name.
PerthNow was given an exclusive first look at the movie, which was shot late last year in Perth and the Wheatbelt town of York, and stars Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Matt Day (Sweet Country) and comedic powerhouse Celeste Barber.
Screen icon Jack Thompson also appears as a villainous landlord, in this story of a young girl, Annie (played by newcomer Lily LaTorre), who tries to save the family farm by entering her rescue dog, Runt, in a famed London dog show.
The role of Runt is filled by real-life rescue dog Squid, and, if the trailer is anything to go by, the pooch has a bright future.
“Our amazing animal department searched far and wide, and sourced the incredible Squid, who was in need of rescue, and they swept her up and gave her a home, and now she’s gonna be the most famous dog in Australia,” Silvey told The West Australian.
The trailer reveals the film to be a literal underdog story, as Runt competes against pedigree dogs in agility trials, while also facing the nefarious intentions of an unscrupulous English dog breeder (Day).
The award-winning West Aussie author believes Squid has the potential to be top dog at the box office, which would mean unseating hit 2011 family film Red Dog.
Red Dog made more than $21 million at the domestic box office, but industry insiders are bullish about Runt’s chances, given it is based on far more established IP in Silvey’s bestselling book.
“I think this film does what Australian films do best,” the Jasper Jones author said.
“It’s distinctly Australian, it’s quirky, it’s funny, it’s heartfelt, and it’s uplifting, and I think it sits alongside some of our best, you know, like, Babe, The Castle, Red Dog, Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding.”
That’s pretty lofty company, but when the trailer comes with Run to Paradise by the Choirboys, a bona fide Oz rock classic, it’s easy to be swept up in the optimism.
Runt is directed by John Sheedy (H is for Happiness) and produced by Jamie Hilton’s See Pictures, with major production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund.
The movie will be released nationally on September 19.
