By Derek Schlennstedt
A film featuring homegrown Healesville talent Senie Priti will premiere at this year’s Melbourne Film Festival.
Cerulean Blue follows the introverted Alex who is determined to drive cross-country to Melbourne in search of a lost love. Despite wanting his own company, he ends up reluctantly picking up optimistic hitchhiker Lily.
One of the film’s biggest roles went to Healesville actress Senie Priti, who stepped into the role of high spirited hitchhiker, Lily.
Speaking to the Mail, Ms Priti said it was great to breathe life into a character unlike any she had portrayed before.
“I really liked Lily,” Ms Priti said.
“Before I’d done this project I had played a few darker, more dramatic roles, and in this film the character is quite light and very much a free spirit.”
“She’s bubbly and energetic so it was very fun to get into that mindset.”
Described as an Australian film that challenges typical gender clichés, Ms Priti said the movie is vastly different to the generic methodical romantic-road-movie.
As well as boasting stunning cinematography and spirited performances, the nuanced two-hander astutely rides a comedic line between sincere and cynical as it explores a modern Australian landscape and what’s expected of millennials.
“It’s a two hander … an example of a buddy movie, with buddy movie elements, but also a romance too, so it’s me and Jack Michel and a road trip we take to Melbourne,” Ms Priti explained.
“It’s set in Australia, with an Australian backdrop and the characters are endearing, and interesting, and quirky.”
While Ms Priti has previously played smaller roles in the TV series, the Dr Blake Mysteries, you will be hearing her name an awful lot more.
In September, Ms Priti will be stepping behind the camera to direct her own movie ‘Alba’, which tells the story of a young girl whose relationship with her father is tested when an unexpected invitation throws their plans together into disarray.
On top of this, Mr Priti will also be playing a supporting role in her first American studio film, Monster Problems, which is the latest project from the team behind Stranger Things, and stars Dylan O’Brien (Maze Runner, Teen Wolf) and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy).
For now, Ms Priti has her sights set on directing Alba and seeing Cerulean Blue on the big screen.
“I’m definitely intrigued by directing and am curious and very excited to test the waters,” she said.
“When you are an actor, you can be quite powerless waiting for someone to give you a job.
“As an actress you can be working straight for nine months and when that’s all finished, there’s nothing so I didn’t want to sit there and wait for the phone to ring for a job.”
“I’ve gone to MIFF many, many times as an audience member, but never had a film in it per say, so it’s pretty exciting to have a world premiere.”
Cerulean Blue will screen at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Sunday, 11 August and Tuesday, 13 August.
Tickets are selling fast, so get in quick. You can book at: http://miff.com.au/program/film/cerulean-blue
