Short Film of the Week: Allie

by Dov Kornits

Allie is a highly emotive documentary from writer/director to watch, Cassie De Colling, produced by Jessica Galea and Sarah Hickey (Monster & Bear). It deservadly won Best Cinematography and 3rd place overall at Tropfest.

Allie is a beautifully shot (DOP David Franjic) and structured film that is incredibly emotive, and captures the real Australia; embracing the generosity of spirit shown by battlers, which filmmakers seem to have forgotten about for far too long.

Below is Cassie De Colling’s story of how she came to make this wonderful film.

“I first met Bob about 2 years ago at a classic Aussie car show in Melbourne. I had decided to take my 1978 Kingswood and from memory this was the first car show I’d ever been to. I was deeply intrigued not just by the beautifully machined cars but also the people who dedicated their lives to them.

“I wandered around and then noticed a car like mine but in a Sandman version. I got chatting to the owner who was Bob, a middle-aged guy, who told me a bit about his car and its story.

“When I went to leave, my car wouldn’t start. Bob came over and offered to have a look at it the following day. Usually, if a man asked me to come over so he could look at my car, I’d politely decline and wait for my mechanic friends to help me. But Bob’s invitation was genuine. He got my car started and off I went.

“The next morning, I thought why not, he knows a lot about cars, and he says he is free to help. I decided to take my car around to his house. When I arrived, he was in the garage tinkering on his car. Together we put my car on a hoist, we changed the starter motor and he showed me around the workings of different parts and how the engine interacted with them. We were there for hours trying to get the starter motor fixed but he wasn’t phased, just happy to help.

“We shared stories and he told me that he had recently had a heart attack and had been laid off work as a result. His partner Chris and her daughter Allie had been the one that had got him through. At the time, Allie was having a nap but soon came out to say hi. He didn’t mention that she had a disability or anything of that inclination.

“Then as the sun started to fade, Allie came out of the house and to the garage. Laughing and smiling. That was the first time I met her, and I was just drawn to her like a magnetic ray of sunshine. She just has that charisma about her.

“For the next year or so, Bob and I kept in touch about cars, parts and car shows. I’d come to the car shows and he’d be there with Chris and Allie. We’d all hang out and admire the cars and have a laugh, over time becoming close friends.

“In the back of my head, the narrative of Bob’s story unfolded, and I felt compelled to give a voice to a story of an unlikely family who had become very close to my heart.

“As the end of 2018 drew close, I was put forward for a potential car commercial. And, just as I was getting my reel together an email came through specifying to quote ‘they want a male director’. I’d come across sexism in my career but in the height of the movement to push female directors I was gobsmacked. I then knew the only way to get in front of any car automotive spot would be to then make a car commercial. However, I am not in the game of putting my heart and soul into something that has no purpose other than that pretty pictures – that’s easy.

“So, as I turned my energy into ideas of making a car spot I kept coming back to Bob’s story. Hence landing at an emotive short documentary with a beautiful car sequence and a twist.

“This film is about Bob and Allie. But most of all I would like to dedicate this film to Allie’s mum Chris.”