Millie Lies Low is a drama comedy filmed in Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. It may not carry an abundance of dialogue but this character-driven story of emotions and facial expressions says it all.
The storyline holds your attention from beginning to end and I found myself thinking about Millie’s (beautifully portrayed by actor/ filmmaker Ana Scotney) position and wondered what I would do given her situation. The question on our minds was how would all this end for Millie. As the story unfolds, the snowball grows bigger as it becomes a rollercoaster ride of deceit.
The Story
How often do we hear people say fake it ‘til you break it? It is more common than we realise.
After missing her flight to New York to begin her internship at a prestigious architecture firm, due to an anxiety attack, architecture grad Millie didn’t leave New Zealand. She had now placed herself in a compromising and embarrassing position and didn’t want anyone to know. Once regaining her composure, Mille attempts to buy another plane ticket but doesn’t have enough money. Her deep sense of shame overrules her logical thinking and she goes into a fight-and-flight mode that prevents her from telling her family and friends the real truth.
This story intrigued my friend and me as we followed Millie’s path of misleading everyone to believe she had arrived in New York, having a great time. She lay low, sleeping in odd places wheeling her suitcase around. As things unfold she develops increasingly desperate schemes using social media tactics or whatever to maintain her façade.
Writer and director Michelle Savill developed the concept from her own experience when she was travelling to a film festival in France and the New Zealand Film Commission was paying her way. Horrifically, she showed up at the airport a day late. To purchase a new ticket would have cost her three thousand dollars, money she didn’t have. Her first thought was to hide out at home in New Zealand until she could raise the funds. She was embarrassed to miss her flight, particularly after her family and friends had been so supportive of this opportunity. She managed to successfully convince the airline to swap her flight around and only charge the change fee. But then she started to think, what if this happened to someone else and they didn’t have the money to buy a new ticket? What would they do, as her first thought was to hide out? And so this is how the movie was created.
A cleverly written script and the overall message I took from it was to listen to your heart.
Cast
Writer/Director Michelle Savill Co-Writer Eli Kent
Producers: Desray Armstrong, Angela Littlejohn Executive Producers: Kelly Rogers, Kevin Gordon
Starring: Ana Scotney (Millie), Rachel House (Marlene), Chris Alosio (Henry), Jillian Nguyen (Carolyn), Sam Cotton (Scott)
In selected cinemas from 17 November as listed:
Cinema Locations
NSW / ACT
United Collaroy
Murwillumbah Regent (Nov 18+26)
Hoyts Belconnen
Hoyts Penrith
Hoyts Chatswood Mandarin
VICTORIA
Yarraville Sun (PPV Nov 13)
Pivotonian Geelong
Hoyts Frankston
Hoyts Northland
Hoyts Highpoint
QUEENSLAND
Hoyts Stafford
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Hoyts Carousel
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Wallis Mitcham
Wallis Mt Barker
Hoyts Salisbury
Ruth Greening holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology & Philosophy. Before retirement, she worked for over 40 years in the corporate world in Melbourne and Brisbane and progressed into senior management positions and project roles for both private industry and government.
In her 70th decade, she continues in casual roles as a freelance writer, model, and actor participating in small movies, TV commercials and User Generated Content.
As a grandmother, she is known as Nanny Babe to her grandchildren and writes from a Baby Boomer perspective on her blog www.nannybabe.com. An avid crafter Ruth actively participates in sewing, crocheting and knitting.
While she continues to pursue her artistic passions, Ruth is dedicated to maintaining her health and fitness as she ages by attending the gym, dancing and walking and thrives on mentoring others.
Connect with Ruth or our moniker Nanny Babe; nannybabegengp.blogspot.com.au/
