| Jucy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Louise Alston |
| Screenplay by | Stephen Vagg |
| Story by | Louise Alston Francesca Gasteen Cindy Nelson |
| Produced by | Kelly Chapman |
| Starring | Francesca Gasteen Cindy Nelson Ryan Johnson Damien Freeleagus Nelle Lee |
| Cinematography | Jan Reichle |
| Edited by | Andrew Soo |
| Music by | Caitlin Yeo |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$500,000 |
Jucy is an Australian comedy feature film produced in 2010 about thewomance between two best female friends. The film was written byStephen Vagg, directed byLouise Alston and produced by Kelly Chapman. It is the second in a planned "quarter life crisis" trilogy from Vagg and Alston following the 2007 romantic comedyAll My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane.[1]
Jucy is a "womantic" comedy about best friends Jackie (Cindy Nelson) and Lucy (Francesca Gasteen). They're in their mid twenties but not much has changed since high school. Jackie's social anxiety is still not under control and she remains incapable of a mature relationship with a man; Lucy hasn't finished either of the university degrees she started and still lives with her mother.
When the duo's relationship is attacked, they make a pact to show the world just how normal they are: Jackie decides to get a boyfriend and Lucy aims for a career move.
They get a chance to complete their goal when both are cast in a stage adaptation of theCharlotte Brontë novelJane Eyre. Jackie has her eye on the show's star, Alex (Ryan Johnson), and Lucy is determined to become a professional actor to win acceptance from her sister Fleur (Nelle Lee). However it results in stress being put on their friendship, which is pushed to breaking point.
The movie came out ofLouise Alston's experiences working withFrancesca Gasteen andCindy Nelson in various plays and on the 2007 featureAll My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane. She wrote the first draft of the script which was developed by writerStephen Vagg, with further input from producer Kelly Chapman.[2]
The film was shot inBrisbane and theGold Coast, in the suburbs ofWest End,The Gap,Paddington,New Farm andEphraim Island. Iconic Brisbane video store Trash Video is also featured.[3]
Charlotte Gregg, who played the lead inAll My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane, plays a support role as Dimity, a bitchy actor who torments the lead characters.[4]
The film had its world premiere at the 2010Toronto International Film Festival[5] where the critic fromVariety acclaimed the film as "colorfully stylized, sweet and silly" and the leads as "terrific".[6] It was subsequently screened at theSeattle International Film Festival,[7]Brisbane International Film Festival,[8] Gold Coast Film Festival, London Australia Film Festival, Scottsdale International Film Festival and International Women's Film Festival inSeoul.
Jucy was released to cinemas in Australia on 3 November 2011, starting withCanberra,Adelaide,Brisbane,Wagga Wagga andOrange.[9] Louise Keller atUrban Cinefile called the film "bright and bubbly... there's vibrancy about the two lead performances - both girls are exceptionally good, and we genuinely care about their characters. The film is short and sweet with a good heart."[10] Matthew Toomey of ABC Radio Brisbane said the movie "has a great sense of humour (some jokes left me laughing out loud) and explores a number of issues which Gen Y folk will be able to relate."[11]