Alex

Alex Archer is a champion teenage swimmer, determined to win selection to the 1960 Rome Olympics. Alex follows the high achieving freestyler as she deals with rivalry, ambition, first love and the pressures of growing up, in a Kiwi seaside town. The rite-of-passage film is an adaptation — based on the first book of a beloved quartet. Author Tess Duder was once an Empire Games swimming medallist. In the title role is Lauren Jackson, then aged 15, who later moved into directing. Alex marked one of the earliest co-productions between New Zealand and Australia, with Aussie director Megan Simpson Huberman at the helm.

Certainly a major upset for Alex Archer — until today the favourite for Olympic selection.

– Swimming commentator (Rima Te Wiata)

Key Cast & Crew

Lauren Jackson

As: Alex Archer

Elizabeth Hawthorne

As: Maggie's mother

Tessa Duder

Original Author, Script Consultant

Ken Catran

Writer

Megan Simpson Huberman

Director

Todd Hunter

Composer