The Tender Hook

Plot synopsis

The film tells the story of a love triangle set in a stylised version of Sydney’s criminal/boxing underworld in the 1920s. The story is about Iris’ rise to the apex of a love/power triangle that includes her English con man, lover, McHeath, and Art an honest, young boxer. Within the flawed moral landscape each character struggles to establish their sovereignty.

Production

The Tender Hook is the second feature by writer/ director Jonathan Ogilvie (Emulsion, Despondent Divorcee, This Film Is a Dog), and stars Hugo Weaving (Little Fish, The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix), Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Casanova, Troy) and Matthew Le Nevez (Emulsion, Peaches).

Producers are Michelle Harrison and John Brousek (Hating Alison Ashley, Sensitive New Age Killer, The Wog Boy).

The crew includes: director of photography, Geoffery Simpson (Romulus, My Father, Under The Tuscan Sun); editor, Ken Sallows (Getting Square, Crackerjack); production designer, Peter Baxter (Lucky Miles, Beneath Clouds); costume designer, Cappi Irreland (Home Songs Stories) and composition of the score by Chris Abrahams from The Necks (The Boys).

The film was financed by the Film Finance Corporation Australia, and Parkland Pictures (UK), with support from Film Victoria. Parkland Pictures (UK) handled International sales, with Icon Films distributing in Australasia.

Reception

The film was not a box-office success, earning only $64,232 against its $7 million budget.

Critics gave the film negative to average reviews. David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz both gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, with Stratton explaining the film has "some very strong elements... [but] never really works as a thriller or as a romance".