Cosi (1996)

Lewis is a young Sydney amateur theater director at his first experience: he is offered a job with a Governmental program for the rehabilitation of mentally ill patients in a Sydney ... See full summary »

Director:

Mark Joffe

Writers:

Louis Nowra (play), Louis Nowra (screenplay)

Stars:

Ben Mendelsohn, Barry Otto, Toni Collette

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Lewis
Barry Otto	...	Roy
Toni Collette	...	Julie
Rachel Griffiths	...	Lucy
Aden Young	...	Nick
Colin Friels	...	Errol
Jacki Weaver	...	Cherry
Pamela Rabe	...	Ruth
Paul Chubb	...	Henry
Colin Hay	...	Zac
David Wenham	...	Doug
Tony Llewellyn-Jones	...	Kirner
Kerry Walker	...	Sandra
Robin Ramsay	...	Minister for Health
Henry Maas	...	Bernard Goldman

Storyline

Lewis is a young Sydney amateur theater director at his first experience: he is offered a job with a Governmental program for the rehabilitation of mentally ill patients in a Sydney institution for mentally ill. His project is overrun by one of the patients Roy who wants to put on stage Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart). None of the patients in the cast is able to sing and none of them knows Italian which is the language of the libretto. Through a lot of difficulties Lewis and his cast develop a deep understanding. The play smartly adapted for the unusual cast is finally produced: lots of unforeseen situations solved 'a la crazy way'but indeed brilliantly. Great success and sad farewell of the director from his cast.

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Plot Keywords:

patient | mozart | electroshock therapy | singing | piano | 

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Taglines:

When Chasing Your Dreams... It Helps To Be A Little Crazy!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Escola dos Amantes

Filming Locations:

Kings Cross, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Meridian Films, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast originally included actor Bruno Lawrence, but during shooting he was taken to the hospital suffering from chest pains and was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He died a few months later.

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Quotes

Roy: We're going to do "Cosi Fan Tutte", the opera.
Doug: What, Little Richard wrote an opera? Tutti Fruiti the opera?
Roy: It's an opera by Mozart, you low life.

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Crazy Credits

Near the end of the credits a cast member with an accordian shows up and performs Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" on it as an obvious slight to the Mozart he was told to play in the movie. A squealing piglet accompanies him.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Rachel Griffiths in Conversation (2012)

User Reviews

Great movie!! so funny at times

This movie is really awesome. Someone recommended it to me since she knew I loved Muriel's Wedding and Strictly Ballroom, and I was dubious at first, then the first scene where Barry Otto acts so crazy was so funny! Toni Collette is rather dark in this movie, but eventually she shines through. I have to admit I was pulling for the characters which Toni and Ben Mendelsohn plays to get together, but I am glad that Lewis' girlfriend (played by Rachel Griffiths, another wonderful actress) finally got some sense into her head. Wonderful ending, and very hilarious at the play itself!!! Recommended.