Ganchos tiernos

Tender Hooks es una comedia romántica australiana de 1988 dirigida por Mary Callaghan y protagonizada por Jo Kennedy y Nique Needles . La película narra la historia de Mitchell y Rex, una joven pareja de Sídney que lucha con sus personalidades incompatibles. Fue el primer y único largometraje de Callaghan.

A finales de los años 80, en Sídney , Mitchell Leigh (apodada Mitch) es una joven que vive en un destartalado edificio de apartamentos en Manly cuando se enamora del travieso y encantador Rex Reeson, recién salido de la cárcel. Su relación es cariñosa y dulce, pero también turbulenta, ya que ambos luchan contra personalidades y orígenes muy diferentes.

Mientras Mitchell trabaja en una peluquería e intenta labrarse una vida junto a Rex, se siente frustrada por su inmadurez y su tendencia a reincidir en actividades delictivas. Mientras tanto, su amiga en común, Gayle, que creció con Rex bajo tutela estatal y ahora divide su tiempo entre el trabajo sexual y los turnos en la peluquería con Mitchell, se encuentra atrapada en una relación abusiva , claramente violenta y tóxica . Mientras Mitchell la apoya en este difícil momento, Gayle se pregunta sobre la naturaleza de su propia relación, más ambigua, con Rex.

Finalmente, Rex vuelve a la cárcel y Mitchell continúa apoyándolo. Cuando escapa poco antes de cumplir su condena, Mitchell lo visita mientras se esconde de la policía en una habitación de hotel en Kings Cross y lo reprende airadamente por su comportamiento imprudente. Mientras tanto, se desarrolla un asedio ajeno a este incidente, lo que obliga a la policía a acordonar la zona.

Rex y sus amigos delincuentes deciden abandonar Sídney y dirigirse a la Costa Norte . Mitchell parece que se unirá a ellos, pero se baja del coche en el último momento justo cuando se acercan a un control policial. Comparten un último momento emotivo y se despiden amistosamente antes de que Mitch se marche.

Al final de la película, ella observa desde la distancia cómo Rex sale del coche y habla brevemente con un agente de policía, quien luego retira una barricada, permitiéndoles continuar su camino.

• Jo Kennedy como Mitchell Leigh ("Mitch")
• Nique Needles como Rex Reeson
• Anna Phillips como Gayle
• John Polson como Tony
• Shane Connor como Wayne
• Simon Westaway como policía motorizado
• Reg Mombassa (cameo)

Producer Chris Oliver met Callaghan at Swinburne Film and Television School in the early 70s, then crossed paths with her again in Sydney during the early 1980s. He was drawn to Callaghan's script that ultimately became Tender Hooks (then titled Contact Visit) seeing it as an opportunity to move away from documentaries to "social realism"^[1] along the lines of Callaghan's earlier short film Greetings from Wollongong.^[3]

The original inspiration for the film came from a female friend of Callaghan's who regularly visited a boyfriend in jail. Callaghan noticed that not only was he "gradually hardening" from life in prison but that her life had become "suspended" as well, meaning they were both effectively "doing time". She told The Age:

I chose to look at prison and the prisoner from the point of view of the loved one - of the visitor, which is what I know - how Mitch is imprisoned by her love for Rex and the conflict it induces in both their lives... With Tender Hooks, I wanted to foster understanding through entertainment. It looks at society from the outside, from the point of view of characters who don't easily slot into it. Like any sub-culture, these characters say as much about the dominant culture as they do about themselves.^[4]

Oliver began seeking funding for the film in 1983. After a lengthy and complicated process involving multiple backers, pre-production finally began in August 1987. The shoot proved difficult for many reasons, including various technical issues and the fact that the script called for "over forty noisy, no-parking inner-city locations, many of them night exteriors, which had to be shot in 33 ten-hour days".^[1]

This was Kennedy's third feature film, having had her breakout role in the 1982 musical Starstruck then deciding to take her career in a new dramatic direction with 1985's Wrong World.^[5] Kennedy sought a "precarious" balance in depicting Mitchell, not wanting to make her seem like a victim while also trying to avoid overplaying her strength. Callaghan praised her performance, saying the subtlety of the role was achieved "not with (Kennedy's) actions... but through a kind of intelligence that crosses her face". Both cited Mike Leigh as an influence.^[6]

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, at one stage Needles and Kennedy dated in real life.^[7] They had previously appeared on stage together as siblings in the 1982 Nimrod Theatre Company production of The Kid^[8] and also both had small roles in the 1984 film The Boy Who Had Everything.

The film features several songs from The Stetsons' debut self-titled album, including "Live This Way" which serves as the film's overture. Other acts featured include Paul Kelly and Ganggajang.

One early screening took place at UCLA in November 1988.^[9] An Australian theatrical release followed in February 1989.^[10][11]

Tender Hooks was released on VHS in Australia in the late 1980s. In recent years, it has been issued on DVD and video on demand by Ronin Films. This version is sourced from the VHS.^[12]

Tender Hooks was positively received in Australia. The Sun-Herald called it a "richly-observed slice of life drama (with) the relaxed air of ad libbed conversation... not only fascinating aspects of modern Australia but also sparkling entertainment which labels everyone associated with it as major talents to watch out for."^[13] Evan Williams wrote in The Australian that the film was one of "exquisite reverberations, tenderness and apprehension... Expect to be quietly pleased, lightly amused, and sent off a little wiser."^[14] Karen Polglaze of The Canberra Times called the film "realistic and sensitive" and a "must".^[15]Filmnews wrote that Callaghan "soars above mediocrity and cheap tricks in a cynical film industry by writing her characters a responsive way out of their situation and giving the film a non-sensationalised ending... Tender Hooks is on the way up and let's hope you are too, Mary Callaghan."^[16]

• Tender Hooks en Ronin Films
• Tender Hooks en IMDb
• Tender Hooks en Oz Movies