Home and Away actor among faces in TV One’s Sunday Theatre

The Black Balloon This week’s Sunday Theatre (8.30pm TV ONE)

This week’s Sunday Theatre (8.30pm TV ONE) stars Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine), Rhys Wakefield (Home and Away), and Kiwi actor Erik Thomson (Packed To The Rafters) in a heart-warming drama about fitting in, discovering love and accepting your family.

Oscar-nominated actress Toni Collette won an AFI award for her performance in tonight’s drama. She says she felt instantly attracted to the film, “when I read the script I loved it – it was so beautiful and so intimately domestic and Australian.”

Collette talks about the complex role of mother in the drama, “the story itself is about the imbalance of focus and attention because there is a lot more my role of Maggie has to do for Charlie. However, like any good mother she ultimately loves both her kids so much that she would do anything for them.”

On researching the part Collette adds, “I think that with any great script you can do as much research as you want but the essence will be in the script, and Elissa has written such a gorgeous story that a lot of it is already in there.”

“There are moments in shooting this film which are indescribable. You really engage with what is going on and I think that is what makes it real and so special” she continues.

Kiwi actor Erik Thomson says he was not daunted by the autobiographical nature of director/writer – Elissa Down’s story, “if you need an insight into the world you need look no further than your director to understand what it felt like – because she has travelled that journey” he says.

“From a father’s point of view it doesn’t matter whether your child has autism or not, you are a father first and foremost – and Simon sees himself as the provider and the protector. He doesn’t really know too much about what goes on and how to handle Charlie – that is left to the mother and he is there to provide the stability and the shell around the family” Thomson continues.

In preparation for the role Thomson not only spent time in an army barracks to get an understanding of the culture, but he also grew his own moustache. He also spoke at length with the Down’s family and in particular Elissa’s father to better understand what parenting a child with autism would involve: “The child that is perceived as ‘normal’ often gets pushed aside. At the end of The Black Balloon Simon realises he has been marginalising Thomas, just as Thomas comes to terms with the fact that his older brother is never going to change. It is a small journey but a big shift of acceptance of the situation.” Thomson concludes.

When Thomas (Rhys Wakefield, Broken Hill, Home and Away) and his family move to a new home and he has to start at a new school, all he wants is to fit in. When his pregnant mother (Collette) has to take things easy, his father Simon (Thomson) puts him in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie (Luke Ford, The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor). Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie (Gemma Ward, The Strangers), faces his biggest challenge yet.

Charlie’s unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes his pent-up frustrations about his brother to pour out – in a story that is funny, confronting, and poignant.

- TVNZ