Lilian’s Story

Production Notes

Based loosely on the life of legendary eccentric Bea Miles, an eccentric street person, who regaled passersby with rousing renditions of Shakespearean monologues. Over the years, Bea Miles became something of a local legend and cult figure, and the contributions she received for her “performances” allowed her to eke out a meager existence. In 1984, author Kate Grenville published a book called Lilian’s Story, which told a fictionalized account of Miles’ life. Although the names and details had been changed, much of what made Miles special remained. In 1994, that book has been transformed into a motion picture, following an eccentric but tenacious woman who is released from a mental institution after 40 years of incarceration. Ruth Cracknell plays the woman in the film’s present-day setting, while Toni Collette portrays her in younger years.

“Lilian’s Story” was shown at film festivals in Telluride, Edingburgh, Hamburg and the Hamptons. Variety praised the performances of the two leads, “Cracknell gives a full-blooded, gutsy performance. Collette has less material to work with until the powerful climax of the flashback segments, when she displays new range and depth.” Toni Collette won her second AFI Award, this time as Best Supporting Actress. The film was further nominated for Best Original Music Score.

Awards & Nominations

★   AFI Award – Best Supporting Actress