Looking for Alibrandi (film)
Looking for Alibrandi | |
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Directed by | New South Wales Film and Television Office |
Distributed by | Beyond Distribution[1] |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes |
Country | Australia |
Languages | English Italian |
Budget | $4.5 million[2] |
Box office | $8.3 million |
Looking for Alibrandi is a 2000 Australian coming-of-age[3][4] film directed by Kate Woods and written by Melina Marchetta (which she adapted from her 1992 novel of the same name). The film is set in 1990s Sydney, New South Wales and features a cast of Australian actors, including Pia Miranda as Josephine Alibrandi, the film's main character; Anthony LaPaglia as her father, Michael Andretti, who left her and her mother before her birth; and Kick Gurry as Josie's love interest, Jacob Coote. The film won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film in 2000.
Plot
Josephine (nicknamed "Josie") Alibrandi (
Josie’s mother, Christina Alibrandi (Greta Scacchi), gave birth to Josie out of wedlock when she was 17. Christina was disowned by her father, Francesco Alibrandi, and banished from the family home until his death. Josie has a rocky relationship with her grandmother/nonna, Katia Alibrandi (Elena Cotta), and they frequently argue. Christina never told Josie’s father, Michael Andretti (Anthony LaPaglia), that she had his baby. He moved to Adelaide to study law, and has since been working as a lawyer there. During Josie’s final year of high school, he visits Sydney temporarily for work and finds out about his child. Josie is initially uninterested in pursuing a father/daughter relationship with Michael, due to his absence for most of her life.
One day, Josie arrives at school and it is revealed that John Barton has taken his own life. Josie is devastated and struggles to cope with the loss. She seeks comfort in Jacob, and they begin a romantic relationship. Josie gets into a physical altercation with Carly (Leeanna Walsman) at school, and after Carly’s father threatens to sue, she asks Michael for his help. They bond as father and daughter and start spending time together. Michael decides to move back to Sydney for a more long-term basis.
Katia reveals a family secret; throughout their marriage, Francesco was abusive and neglectful towards her. She then had an affair with an Anglo-Australian man, Marcus Sandford, and he is the biological father of Christina. Francesco was aware that Christina was not his biological daughter because he is infertile, and this is one of the reasons why he resented her so much. Katia revealing this secret helps improve her relationship with Christina and Josie, and they subsequently grow closer as a family.
Cast
- Greta Scacchi as Christina Alibrandi
- Anthony LaPaglia as Michael Andretti
- Elena Cotta as Katia Alibrandi
- Kerry Walker as Sister Louise (Nun)
- Pia Miranda as Josephine "Josie" Alibrandi
- Kick Gurry as Jacob Coote
- Matthew Newton as John Barton
- Leanne Carlow as Sera Conti
- Diane Viduka as Anna Selicic
- Leeanna Walsman as Carly Bishop
- Michael Gallina as Robert
- Rosa DiMarte as Patrizia
- Geoff Morrell as Mr. Barton
Production
The world premiere of the play Looking for Alibrandi, based on the novel, was created and performed by the
The film was produced by Robyn Kershaw.[7]
The entire film was filmed in
Critical acclaim
The film, while not well known in international markets, has received critical acclaim for its insights into both the second-generation-migrant experience and the universal human condition.
Looking for Alibrandi was Kate Woods' directorial debut in film; Woods was acclaimed for "giving [the film's] multicultural terrain the true respect and depth it deserves."[8]
Awards
Looking for Alibrandi won five awards at the 2000 AFI Awards:[7]
- Best Film–presented to producer Robyn Kershaw
- Best Lead Actress–Pia Miranda
- Best Supporting Actress–Greta Scacchi
- Best Adapted Screenplay–Melina Marchetta (adapted from her own novel)
- Best Film Editing–Martin Connor
Box office
Looking for Alibrandi grossed approximately $8,300,000 at the box office in Australia.[9]
See also
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Fry, Catherine. "Looking for Alibrandi". Murdoch University. Archived from the original on 23 July 2001. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ Speed, Lesley. "Looking For Alibrandi at 30: "No matter how far you run": Looking for Alibrandi and coming of age in Italo-Australian cinema and girlhood". Screening the past. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ Marsh, Walter (7 July 2022). "Looking For Alibrandi at 30: 'There's a white-hot shame about sticking out'". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "PACT Centre for Emerging Artists facing an uncertain future". Australian Arts Review. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Blake, Elissa (14 October 2014). "PACT Centre for Emerging Artists celebrates 50 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ AFI Awards. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
- ^ "Looking for Alibrandi". ABC. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "Top 100 Feature Films of All Time". Screen Australia. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
External links
- Looking for Alibrandi at IMDb
- Looking for Alibrandi at Oz Movies