Movie Night: Shirley Adams (2009)
Shirley’s whole world shrinks to caring for her paralysed son, surviving on scraps, and hiding heartbreak, all while trying to stay strong in a place that’s stolen everything but her will.
The story of a woman who loses her family to violence and poverty, but gains her own sense of self-worth.
Year of Release: 2009
Genres: Drama
Languages: Afrikaans, English
Running time: 92 minutes
Director: Oliver Hermanus
Writers: Oliver Hermanus
Cast:
- Denise Newman
- Keenan Arrison
- Lee-Ann van Rooi
- Emily Child
IMDB Score:
Summary
Shirley Adams is trying to hold it together in a world that keeps falling apart. Her teenage son, Donovan, was shot over a year ago on his way home from school, and he’s been disabled ever since. It’s been downhill from there — her husband bailed, the bills piled up, and Shirley’s doing what she can to survive, even if it means slipping a few things into her bag at the shops. When a young therapist, Tamsin, arrives to help Donovan, it feels like a small light in the dark. But that hope gets shaken when Shirley finds out who shot her son — someone Donovan once called a friend. She keeps the truth to herself, afraid it might break him completely. Set in Mitchells Plain, this is a raw and personal story about how one act of violence can unravel a whole family.
Shirley Adams Movie Trailer
Awards & Nominations
Amiens International Film Festival
2009
- 🏆 Winner – Golden Unicorn
• Best Film – Oliver Hermanus - 🏆 Winner – SIGNIS Award
• Oliver Hermanus
Locarno Film Festival
2009
- 🎖️ Nominee – Golden Leopard
• Oliver Hermanus
Carthage Film Festival
2010
- 🎖️ Nominee – Tanit d’Or
• Narrative Feature Film – Oliver Hermanus (director) - 🏆 Winner – Best Actress
• Actress in a Leading Role – Denise Newman - 🏆 Winner – FIPRESCI Prize
• Oliver Hermanus (director)
• Prix de la Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique
Dubai International Film Festival
2009
- 🏆 Winner – Muhr AsiaAfrica Award
• Best Actress – Feature – Denise Newman - 🏆 Winner – Muhr AsiaAfrica Award
• Best Editor – Feature – Garreth Fradgley - 🎖️ Nominee – Muhr AsiaAfrica Award
• Best Film – Feature – Oliver Hermanus
South African Film and Television Awards
2010
- 🎖️ Nominee – SAFTA Golden Horn
• Best Achievement in Sound Design – Feature Film – Jim Petrak (for Shirley Adams (2009)) - 🏆 Winner – SAFTA Golden Horn
• Best Feature Film - 🏆 Winner – SAFTA Golden Horn
• Best Actress – Feature Film – Denise Newman - 🏆 Winner – SAFTA Golden Horn
• Best Achievement in Directing – Feature Film – Oliver Hermanus - 🎖️ Nominee – SAFTA Golden Horn
• Best Achievement in Script Writing – Feature Film – Oliver Hermanus & Stavros Pamballis
African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)
2011
- 🏆 Winner – AMAA
• Best Sound – Jim Petrak (re-recording mixer) - 🎖️ Nominee – AMAA
• Best Actress in a Leading Role – Denise Newman - 🎖️ Nominee – AMAA
• Best Director – Oliver Hermanus - 🎖️ Nominee – AMAA
• Best Screenplay – Oliver Hermanus & Stavros Pamballis - 🎖️ Nominee – AMAA
• Best Young/Promising Actor – Keenan Arrison
Granada Film Festival Cines del Sur
2010
- 🎖️ Nominee – Golden Alhambra – Oliver Hermanus
- 🏆 Winner – Special Jury Mention
• Best Actress – Denise Newman
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