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Hero image for Alex

Alex

Film (Excerpts) – 1993

G
Anyone

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.

...now this one is serious competition.
– Alex's swimming coach Mr Jack (Chris Haywood) warns her about the new girl in town

Key Cast & Crew

Profile image for Elizabeth Hawthorne

Elizabeth Hawthorne

As: Maggie's mother

Profile image for Ken Catran

Ken Catran

Writer

Generic Profile image for Todd Hunter

Todd Hunter

Composer

Profile image for Lauren Jackson

Lauren Jackson

As: Alex Archer

Generic Profile image for Megan Simpson Huberman

Megan Simpson Huberman

Director

Generic Profile image for Tessa Duder

Tessa Duder

Original Author, Script Consultant

See all 47 credits

Produced by

  • Isambard Productions

  • Total Film

Acknowledgements

Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission, the Australian Film Finance Corporation, and NZ On Air

Music

Featured song 'Do You Wanna Dance' composed by Bobby Freeman, performed by Paul Green

Closing credits songs:
'For the Rest of My ife' composed by Joanna Pigott & Todd Hunter, performed by Kerry Lee
'See You Later Alligator' composed by Bobby Charles, performed by actor Josh Picker

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