In the late 1970s 14 year old Greta Driscoll arrives at a new school. She is immediately befriended by the overenthusiastic Elliott, whom she likes, and is also approached by a group of sophisticated girls, Jade, Sapphire and Amber, who pressure her into friendship even though she doesn't like them. Greta's mother worries that she has no friends and decides to invite her whole school to her fifteenth birthday party. Though Greta is extremely reluctant to have the party she eventually allows her mother to proceed with her plan. The day of the party Greta is surprised to find herself having fun but is yanked away from the party by Amber and her friends who give her a song they have recorded where they mock her body. Running away crying Greta is approached by Elliott who confesses he has a crush on her. Greta cruelly shuts him down. Shortly afterwards Greta notices a strange creature in her room who has stolen her music box. Chasing it she finds herself lured into the forest behind her house where menacing creatures lurk. As she is about to be attacked she meets the Huldra who rescues her. After being separated from the Huldra, Greta tries to find her music box and is instead frozen by a woman smashing various music boxes. She is once again rescued by the Huldra who throws her back into her world. After fighting off evil versions of Amber, Jade and Sapphire, Greta finds the creature who stole her music box and discovers the creature is actually her child self. Awakening in her bedroom Greta is met by her older sister who comforts her and tells her that while her current age is an awkward one she is not alone. Greta returns to the party where she apologizes to Elliott and she asks him to switch clothes so that she can abandon the uncomfortable dress her mother forced her to wear. Decked out in Elliot's suit Greta blows out her candles and celebrates her 15th birthday.
The film was primarily shot in Adelaide, South Australia, with most of the interior and forest shots filmed at Anomaly Studios. Other locations include Findon High School, Blackwood Forest, Bonython Park and a private house in the suburb of Panorama.
Reception
Critical response
Jane Howard of The Guardian praises the film giving it 4 out of 5 stars and said that "It’s remarkable how comfortable the oddities we might associate with theatre sit on the screen." and further stating "The rich colours popping from cinematographer Andrew Commis’s 4:3 aspect ratio draw us back into an Australia of the past. Production and costume designer Jonathon Oxlade also embraces the 70s in all of its oddities and excess. And yet Myers always grounds her characters and their stories in a recognisable reality, drawing out delicate and nuanced performances. Even when the fantasy and magic reaches a peak, we still feel passionately engaged with the humanity." Simon Foster of gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars and said "As Greta embraces her blossoming self, so to does Australian cinema welcome another memorable movie heroine." Cat Kusmuk-Dodd of states "Both Greta’s journey through her everyday life and into her imaginary world make for a visually pleasing experience, the latter enchanting us with the appearance of creatures similar to those in The Mighty Boosh. The excessive timber décor and brightly coloured wallpaper in the Driscoll’s family home would not seem out of place in Napoleon Dynamite."
