Accidents Happen, trailer

The darkly comic opening scene of Accidents Happen sets the tone for this alternately funny and heartrending debut from Sydneysider Andrew Lancaster (2001 winner of Rouben Mamoulian Award for In Search of Mike, his first collaboration with scriptwriter Brian Carbee). Mom, dad and the kids head to the drive-in to recover from a neighbour’s shocking accident – but the film they pick doesn’t really do the trick, and the boys start playing up. The consequence (and in this film there are always consequences) of their youthful pranks has a blistering impact on the family that echoes long and hard. Geena Davis shines as the screwball mother, Harrison Gilbertson is equally impressive as her troubled teen son Bill, and St. Ives makes a very convincing 1980s New England. (Sydney Film Festival)

Teaser after the cut. (Thanks to Illapa)