Struck by Lightning

This is a film with its heart in the right place and there are both funny and touching moments in this film about misfits - as both the trainees and the workers at the centre are seen as misfits by society and employers respectively.

Garry McDonald is excellent as the harried manager of Saltmarsh, who tries to keep the centre going despite funding problems. Brian Vriends is energetic and likeable as PE teacher Pat Cannizzarro, who has a genuine rapour with the trainees, but his performance sometimes becomes too manic.

Catherine McClements is as charming as ever, playing the social worker who is attracted to Pat, but has to learn to truly love the trainees. And dozen or so actors with Downs Syndrome do a great job as well. It's a very charming moving, and mostly a lot of fun, but it also gets a bit silly at times.

I caught this movie today at midday when I was just lazing around on my day off. Middday movies can sometimes be such a nice surprise and this one definitely was! It's got it all drama, laughs, happiness and sadness. It touches on so many issues to do with the handicapped community which many "normal" people wouldn't understand (such as falling in love). It has a really interesting plot also, you watch as the two main characters (who are hilarious) battle to save the workshop which has become a sanctuary to the handicapped people who spend time there. All the characters are really like likable and it is hard to not really hope everything works out for them. I think it's really sad that more people won't get the chance to watch this gem (you would have trouble probably finding this at your local DVD store believe me.) I watched it all the way through and I'm really happy that I did.

i like Brian Vriends character in this movie he is good with those under privileged kids teaching them how to play soccer, this kind of movie brings out the best in people and movies like these can certainly make you cry!! i think this is a really good movie and these kids are inspired by Pat (Brain Vriends) i give this movie 9 out of 10

Wouldn't every Phys Ed teacher, love to do what our one, does in this film. What an interesting start? Watching this movie, recently, or more, accurately, last night, I almost forgot how much I enjoyed it, or more correctly, I didn't realize how much I'd enjoy this film again. Vriend's character plays an overzealous P.E. teacher, with good intentions, but with bad methods of showing. Following a sacking of course, for his unruly exploits on the school grounds, or I should say, in the cafeteria, turning it in to a war zone of cream of pastries, he takes a job in at a seaside caring facility, Saltmarsh (actually Escort Hughes house) Adelaide'n that I am. Too, that building no longer exists either. He meets a cynical alcho, (Garry Macdonald) in one astonishing performance or realism, it's all too hard to believe it's a fictional character. On the other side of the token, Vriend's performance is quite amazing if you take stock, such a role filled with enthusiasm, zest, and optimism. I don't think anyone else could of done a better job, than this guy, and I myself wouldn't, want anyone else filling this role. SBL is of course, not a film driven by plot, just by a couple of instances, and qualms, and that's how it was intended. This was a much better one, than the lightweight Return Home, made in S.A at the same time. Catherine McClement's performance as a sort of bitchy social worker, who has a phobia of am autistic kid's touch, is just as strong as her other co stars, though her character wasn't one I much liked, or care for, as in her personality. This is a film that will make you howl cheer and cry, and works wonderfully just as a comedy as it does a drama. You will catch sight of some Adelaide locations, pretty up in the city, and just above, plus the Largs Bay area. This is another film that does us proud, not like everyone made here. SBL is a film you can't miss.

In 1992 I had the fortune to live in Canberra, AU Forget if I saw this in the theater (my faulty recollection perhaps) or film studies course at Erindale. The plot in the synopsis is off...

Synopsis: a Coach at the private school is fired due to some scandal. The coach is a self absorbed narcissistic a-hole. He buns around a bit until hired at a new school as their football (soccer) coach. In his head he's going to coach this team to defeat his previous school. He even plans the bout. Then he arrived at his new school to discover it's a special needs institute.

To my memory this is one of the most up lifting, appropriately funny films involving special needs I ever saw up to the point. Most hire actors to portray special needs, yet to my memory the talent is made up of special needs athletes.

Highly recommend this movie. This said I searched for a copy in the US for years.