A bittersweet Australian drama with strong performances and scene stealing scenery, Moon Rock for Monday also marks the impressive feature filmmaking debut of Kurt Martin, who has delivered a film of astute emotion and craft.

With its blend of coming-of-age and road trip movie tropes, Moon Rock for Monday is not a wholly original film experience, but it is a sincere and heartfelt one.

Written and directed by Kurt Martin, the film tells the story of Monday (Ashlyn Louden-Gamble) a terminally ill 9-year-old-girl who lives an enclosed life under the watchful eye of her father Bob (Aaron Jeffrey).

During an outing to the doctor’s office, Monday unexpectedly finds herself alone on a train with Tyler (George Pullar), a 17-year-old on the run from the law after a robbery leads to a police shooting. Tyler views Monday as the perfect cover from authorities, while the naïve and trusting Monday simply wants to go along for the ride, if the destination is Uluru, the “moon rock” that she hopes will heal her.

Cinematographer Glenn Hanns (Battle Ground) captures the films different locations, from the urban climes of Sydney to the red dust filled landscape of Coober Pedy in South Australia, very well. Set in 1999, the film features a selection of classic Australian indie-rock favourites that give momentum to the films story, with “These Days” by Powderfinger perfectly placed at the film’s conclusion.

The true strength of Moon Rock for Monday is its performances, particularly from young Louden-Gamble and burgeoning star Pullar. It was a two-year search to cast the role of Monday, and Louden-Gamble perfectly portrays her character’s intelligence and innocent naivety. Pullar complies with a stirring performance as a broken young man who is placed in a situation of responsibility rather than survival, while plagued by nightmares of a tragic past and doubts about his future.

The chemistry between Louden-Gamble and Pullar is palpable, as the pair challenge and complement one another to make for a coming-of-age story both moving and engrossing. The hope of a road trip movie is that not only should its characters connect, but they should also connect with the audience. Moon Rock for Monday succeeds on both fronts.