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Two estranged sisters vie for custody of their preteen nephew, not always considering his feelings, in this compelling Australian drama from 'Travelling North' director Carl Schultz. As per the title, the film pivots around what everyone says about the boy behind his back, and the film is blessed by a deliciously complex sound design in which background discussions overlap with whatever the boy is doing. Nicholas Gledhill is very well cast as the protagonist with an expressive face that tells all as he listens to the adults converse, extrapolating what he can. John Seale does a great job shooting Gledhill in intentionally intrusive close-ups and with several gliding shots throughout, 'Careful He Might Hear You' is an incredibly good- looking film. If the movie does not totally work, it is due to becoming too sentimental for its own good, especially towards the end. Wendy Hughes (as the wealthier aunt) could have also benefited for some more characterisation as she comes off a little too much like an evil stepmother. Generally speaking though, this is a captivating look at two sisters with opposite approaches to life both trying to parent properly in wildly different ways and how the boy learns to finally assert himself when things do not go the way he wants. In other words, it is just as much a tale of growing up as it is a story of sibling rivalry regarding custody of him.
Joe Day
Sorry but I cannot tolerate films about stupid people and all of the characters in this film are just that. The little boy is good enough but I suspect this was a much more interesting book. Were I this kid, I really can't say I'd want to be related to any of them.The absentee father, Logan, promises to fix things for the kid and then disappears. The rich aunt is conveniently killed in a tacky ferry boat accident. The one time the aunt whom he wanted to live with had her chance, she clams up in an asthmatic attack in court. And her husband, the kid's beloved uncle has a nervous breakdown when the kid colors in his "beloved book". Here in the States we have Lifetime Television Movies - for women. That sums this thing up for me. I guess women might like it. I sure didn't.
edwagreen
One of the best British movies that I've seen. This is certainly in the tradition of the 1946 heartbreak "Brief Encounter."This gem of a film deals with the ensuing custody battle between a couple and the wife's sister. The problem is that their third sister, the mother of the child, has died and the father, an alcoholic, is not capable of raising the child. We learn that at one time the father had a romantic interlude with his wealthy sister-in-law.The little boy, Nicholas Gledhill,gives the most phenomenal performance. Interesting to read that this young lad has never appeared in another film. The cruelty that this child has to go through when he stays with his wealthy aunt-from the children from the private school that he attends. The film demonstrates how mean other children can be.The film is so good because it shows two diverse sisters-one who is wealthy and the other, poverty stricken especially when her husband, a defeated candidate from the Labor Party, loses his job.The musical score is fabulous and absolutely haunting. The ending will tug at your heart with its Titanic like tragic occurrence.This is a memorable film, well told.
audhep
The film is a superb adaptation of the book. As is true of most adaptations, it doesn't quite live up to the book. Read the book first--and then see the movie. The acting is first-rate. The little boy, Nicholas Gledhill, is amazing. And Wendy Hughes is stunning--what a shame she has never caught on with American audiences in her relatively unproductive American film and television career. The film is another example of the high quality work that comes out of Australia with such frequency.
AD
