TAKE MY HAND

Australia, 2024, 102 minutes, Colour.

Radha Mitchell, Adam Demos, Bart Edwards, Meg Fraser, Xavier Molyneux, Natalie Bassingthwaughr, Darren Gilshenan, Robyn Gibbes, Steve Bastoni, Angie Milliken.

Directed by John Raftopolous.

There is always an emotional appeal with stories, especially about illnesses, that are based on actual characters in real life. And this is the case here. As with many such films, there are photos of them during the final credits. The film has been co-written by director, John Raftopolous and executive produced by his wife, whose story, at Claire Jensz. There is a tenderness about the title.

The film opens vigorously, horses racing through the countryside, the beauty of the New South Wales countryside, the Northern Rivers, the coastal beaches, the cliffs. And riding the horses, Laura (Meg Fraser), finishing her studies at school, applications to British universities, some tensions with her strict school teacher father, support from her mother (and early glimpses of her mother’s hand shaking and indication of multiple sclerosis). As with her riding, Laura is independent-minded and determined.

But, she encounters Michael (Xavier Molyneux), delivering fruit, working with his Greek father. And, as we expect, mutual attraction, his learning to ride a horse, her strong-mindedness in the relationship, the dilemma about her education and leaving home. Michael is supportive of her choice to leave for the UK.

Then a sudden, unexpected transition of 20 years. This time, Laura, now played by Radha Mitchell, is a very successful businesswoman, married to Jason, also successful in business, and the mother of three young boys, family life at home, football practice, and, at work, the possibilities for her promotion.

One day, at the football, she faints. Hospital, diagnosis, MS, the concern that it is hereditary, strength of the disease, the debilitating factors, the need for care… And this is complicated by her company’s decisions about her future, about her relationship with her husband.

Ultimately, Laura and the boys go back to Australia to live with her parents, an encounter with Michael (Adam Demos), her increasing dependence because of the MS, decisions, love, future.

Most audiences will find this film touching, expectedly emotional (though some reviewers and audiences, seemingly becoming wary of expressions of emotion and sentiment, have considered the film too sweet). But the film is, in fact, the couple telling their story.

1. The title, the tone, love, help? Based on a true story, the final photos of the credits of the actual characters? The emotion of the film – and critique that it was too sweet?
2. The Northern Rivers locations, the beauty of the countryside, the forests, the coast, the water and the tides, the cliffs? The home, the riding sequences of the horses, the town, ordinary life? The musical score?
3. The contrast with the London sequences, business, the vistas of London, offices, the country home? Hospitals, surgeries?
4. The story of Laura, her family, her father as local teacher, strict? Her mother, home, intimations of MS? Her sister? Her love of riding the many riding sequences? Age, determination, self-willed, the episode of cheating in class, her father’s reprimand? The application to the Universities? The encounter with Michael, delivering the fruit, the initial attraction, playing off each other, the various meetings, the outings, sharing, teaching him to ride, and shovelling the manure? The future, the bond with Michael, the university entry, discussions with him, his willingness that she should go?
5. The passing of 20 years, Laura, successful in business, the meetings, her plans, qualifications, promotions? Married, the three boys, the comfortable lifestyle? The relationship with Jason? His success in business, making money? International travels? Relationship with the boys, is his forgetting to pick them up for football? Indications of tension? Laura ready for the promotion, prepared, hopes? The bond with the boys?
6. The background her mother with MS, her fainting, the hospital, the tests, the truth about her condition, severity, control? And not getting the promotion and her angry walking out? The husband’s response? The boys? The need for medication, discussions about MS being hereditary? Her not telling her father?
7. Her managing, Rachel coming to England, sharing with her, the support?
8. The tensions with Jason, increasing, fighting, the final evening, the clash, his walking out, the tension with driving, the crash?
9. The decision to return to Australia, the boys and their love for their father, staying with the grandparents, Peter and his looking up to his wife, her MS?
10. The encounter with Michael, friendly, story of his divorce, meeting Bella? Rekindling the friendship, his knowing about her from social media, her MS? The invitation to stay with him? Discussions with her father, with her mother? Discussions with the boys? Rachel and her support?
11. The transition, Michael and his love for Laura, her love for him, the discussions with Bella and Bella’s encouragement? The football, the boys playing with Michael? Laura’s continued MS, need for 24-hour care, but a future with Michael?