Finding Joy

Finding Joy

2003 · 95 min · ★ 8.0 · Drama, Romance

Joy Brown (Billie Dean) is a 40-something woman with little confidence, less self-esteem and a burning desire to realise her dream of being a singer/songwriter. But she cant sing. When Joy takes in a stray dog, Raffi, her life immediately changes. Her best friend, the tarot card reading Tessa (Janet Watson Kruse), moves in, Joy changes her name to Luna Starr, and she meets Peter Wolfman (Andrew Einspruch). When Peter encourages her to perform with him at the local pizzerias folk music nights, Joy sings sort of hiding behind masks of wigs and silliness. Despite the singing, Peter and Joys relationship blossoms. But there are lots of hiccups along the way -- ex-wives, ex-husbands, frightening performances, and bucket loads of doubt. Set to the backdrop of the folk music scene in an arty country town, the film celebrates universal themes of friendship, low self-esteem, love relationships, and the joy of dogs.

Directed by Billie Dean · Written by Billie Dean

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7 Days with 7 Dogs

7 Days with 7 Dogs · 2007

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Seven rescued dogs—mostly elderly and most with health problems. You want to take them on the trip of a doggie lifetime, but where do you go and what do you do? In this “dog-umentary,” filmmaker and animal shaman Billie Dean and her filmmaker husband Andrew Einspruch bundle their seven rescued dogs from Ballyoncree and hit the road on a journey of discovery. Because humans aren’t the only ones who need to smell the roses. Filmed in some of Australia’s most beautiful places, and shot by AFI Award winning cinematograhper Anthony Jennings, the documentary follows Suki, Louie, Tala, Twylah, Cedar, Willow, and Raffi as they do everything from stay in five-star resort accommodation to taking a horse-drawn gypsy caravan ride. It’s the trip of a doggie lifetime.

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