In sickness and in love

Babyteeth

Striking that rare balance between being deeply moving and achingly funny, Australian filmmaker Shannon Murphy’s refreshing oddball coming-of-age film brims with tenderness, frustration and compassion as it tells the story of Milla (Eliza Scanlen), a high-schooler having cancer treatment.

Broken up into freewheeling chapters, it charts Milla’s treaction to her treatment, her relationship with her caring but troubled parents – and the effect on those around her of her friendship with homeless young drug addict Moses (Toby

RIGHT TRACK Unlikely pair get together

Wallace). For sure the “teen-romance-with-onepartner-terminally-ill” has become a staple in recent years, with films such as The Fault in Our Stars and Five Feet Apart favouring tears over laughter.

But Babyteeth is a delightfully off-kilter addition. At its heart are Milla’s parents – the ever-excellent Essie Davis as her pill-popping ex-concert pianist mum and Ben Mendelsohn as her psychiatrist dad.

As they strive to accept her choice of boyfriend, the film beautifully charts Milla’s stilted journey towards adulthood and her fractured relationship with Moses – who is in need of help almost as much as she is.

From a schoolgirl trying out wigs to a raucous teen embracing parties and booze, she tries to grab moments for herself as an escape from her reality.

Little Women’s Eliza is joyous and striking as Milla, balancing a surprising maturity with a gauche sense of youth.

Eliza Scanlen is both joyous and striking in this tender & compassionate off-kilter film