Cast: Josh Lawson, Bojana Novakovic, Damon Herriman, Kate Mulvany, Kate Box, Patrick Brammall, Alan Dukes, Lisa McCune, Erin James, TJ Power, Kim Gyngell, Lachy Hulme
Director: Josh Lawson
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rated: MA
Running Time: 97 minutes
Synopsis: A comedy about sex, love, relationships and taboo, The Little Death is a laugh-out‐loud funny, honest and ultimately moving look at the secret sex lives of five ordinary couples. Maeve has a dangerous sexual fantasy that Paul struggles to fulfill, Evie and Dan reignite their spark with role-play, Rowena discovers she finds pleasure in her husband Richard's pain, while Phil finds a newfound love for his wife Maureen in her quieter moments, and Monica and Sam become caught up in a dirty and chaotic phone call. With an ensemble of Australia's finest talent, Writer/Director Josh Lawson has cleverly constructed a film that all at once defies expectations, continually surprises and is genuinely charming. The Little Death explores the strange, hilarious and sometimes disastrous places our desire can take us in pursuit of that fleeting moment of sexual ecstasy; a moment the French call -la petit mort' – the little death.
The Little Death
Release Date: September 25th, 2014
Paul & Maeve – Josh Lawson & Bojana Novakovic
UAL MASOCHISM: Sexual gratification from humiliation, pain and suffering Paul and Maeve are a middle class typecast couple: young and attractive, reasonably well off, successful. Content – so it seems – until Maeve works up the courage to reveal she wants something more. She has fantasies of being the victim of a dangerous sexual encounter – of being forced into sex by a stranger. Paul is at first shocked and alarmed until she insists that she only wants to be with him, that she wants Paul to be the one who surprises her, without her knowing and without permission. After an unsuccessful attempt ends with an embarrassing anti-climax, Paul goes to extraordinary lengths to fake the scene in order for Maeve to believe she is the victim of a real sex crime. Fear, danger and ultimately hilarity ensue.
Phil & Maureen – Alan Dukes & Lisa Mccune
The revisited themes explored throughout The Little Death are morals, normality, monogamy, relationships, love, deceit – all tied up with one sexy red bow. The story hopefully suggests that perhaps we shouldn't take sex so seriously. It's part of everyday life. It's a normal function of the human body, and for that reason I don't necessarily think there is any risqué material in the story – subject to what others may believe. Sex is a beautiful thing that can also be very dangerous. It can be romantic, it can be a lot of different things, but it can also be funny. What's great about The Little Death is that sometimes it does take sex to a silly, funny place but other times I think it takes it very seriously. Sex can be sad too – not having it or lying to the person you have it with.
Sex is a very complicated thing – it conjures emotions that no other activity can – and I think to put it in one box would be to misunderstand sex altogether. The Little Death is a comment on today's society and a challenge to the idea of normality. I think that modern society, especially thanks to the internet, has allowed people to come out of their shell more as a form of expression (even if it's anonymously and in private).
The internet gives people a forum to explore their sexuality more. It's a good thing. Sexuality is ever changing and is a reflection of the society surrounding it. To be sexually satisfied now as opposed to one hundred years ago – it takes a lot more effort and determination due to the limitless exposure we are subject to today. It is ever changing and nothing's normal anymore. To be normal might be abnormal these days. You're likely to be the odd one out, if you're normal. The casting process was a difficult one because I really wanted the audience to be able to relate to the characters – as if Paul was either you/your husband or the guy next door – not me.
For this reason I felt it was important to cast unknowns or actors who could transform themselves. We searched high and low for the right cast who could pull off the long and often intense dialogue driven scenes, and we couldn't have done it without the help of Nikki Barrett, the Casting Agent. There were lots of challenges being a first time director. I think the one that stands out for me the most was just juggling those three hats of writer, director, actor.
Writer really was the fly in the ointment because the script was ever changing, I had to write on the fly and we'd be adding scenes. The script was constantly moving. It was a fluid thing. I'd go home most nights and add changes to the dialogue. It was a collaborative work. I relied heavily on other people's input for the authenticity of the characters. I was determined to make this a film every personality could relate to.
Producer's Statement – Jamie Hilton
When I first read The Little Death screenplay, I found it profoundly funny. I laughed all the way through it. We wanted to be involved and we chased Josh Lawson about the rights every few months for over a year until finally he gave in. What makes The Little Death so great is that it's so different, so original, and to finance a film like this you also have to think outside the box. In the end it was Phil Hunt at Head Gear who cash‐flowed production under a finance model in which he agreed to defer interest, without requiring a completi
on bond. Others like Deluxe, Red Apple and Spectrum Films made investments. This is a very new approach to financing. It was a little film and many took the risk on the strength of the script and its originality. Josh Lawson has always had an incredibly clear vision for The Little Death. It's difficult to believe that this is his directorial debut. He is so confident and assured. Josh Lawson's dedication to The Little Death verges on obsession; his instincts are always astute, considered and effective. He's astoundingly clever, a rare talent with highly tuned comedic timing and a very 'international' sensibility. We can only hope he continues to split his time between Los Angeles and Australia so we can enjoy his voice in our screen stories. I'm incredibly proud of the cast we put together. TJ Power (who learnt sign language for the role) and Erin James (her first time on camera) really steal the hearts of all who see the film. Casting this film was a pleasure as, unlike larger films, we had absolute creative control. Josh Lawson and our casting director, Nikki Barrett, were able to cho
ose the best actor for each role, not the biggest star. Our eleven strong ensemble is so diverse, from Bojana Novakovic to Lisa McCune, Josh Lawson to Kym Gyngell, there are actors and stories for every fan, which really helps the film appeal to a broad audience. We hope this is the kind of film people will talk about for a long time after they see it. While sex is central, it's really about relationships, perhaps a modern take on the rom‐com genre.
Producer's Statement – Matt Reeder
The Little Death is a fantastic achievement on many levels and one I am very proud to have worked on. Josh Lawson has done an outstanding job crafting a feature film from his own sharply drawn, hilarious screenplay. It was this high quality of writing that drew the passionate and dedicated cast and crew to the project. All departments contributed above and beyond the call of duty and the result is a feature film that shines. The Little Death was always going to hinge on the quality of the performances. The ensemble of talented actors that Josh assembled elevated what was already a tightly woven and layered story to another level. It is impossible to single out a performance – all the actors, from the veterans to the new faces, brought their A game. I sincerely look forward to the opportunity to enjoy their performances with the cinema going public. 9 Comedy is a funny thing. It's a genre that Australians, when it's done 'right', really warm to. In crafting The Little Death Josh has attempted something that has rarely been done in Australian cinema. He's made a smart comedy for intelligent people. I think this shows great respect for the cinema-going public of Australia, a respect that is often not shown by the rehashed, regurgitated cinema that is aimed at a lowest common denominator. In producing The Little Death, Ticket To Ride trialled a bold new finance model which allowed the major contributors to the creation of the film to become part owners of it. This unique model has meant that the finished film is truly a work of great collaboration and care, and this is evidenced in the quality of the finished film.
The Little Death
Release Date: September 25th, 2014
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