Love and Other Catastrophes (1996)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Emma-Kate Croghan

Writers:

Stavros Kazantzidis (story)
Yael Bergman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A day in the life of two film-school students trying to find love and another house-mate.

Plot Keywords:

Student | University | Film School | College | Roommate

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Matt Day	...	Michael Douglas
Matthew Dyktynski	...	Ari
Alice Garner	...	Alice
Frances O'Connor	...	Mia
Radha Mitchell	...	Danni
Suzi Dougherty	...	Savita
Kim Gyngell	...	Professor Richard Leach
Suzanne Dowling	...	Dr. Russell
Torquil Neilson	...	Toby
Christine Stephen-Daly	...	Susan
Dominic McDonald	...	Zac
Alvin Chong	...	Alvin
Myles Collins	...	Myles
Antony Neate	...	Tony
Brigid Kelly	...	Brigid

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

76 min | USA:78 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Italy:T | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hotel Como, Toorak Road, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Beyond Films

Quotes:

Mia: I just wish you'd tell me when you're planning to be more independent.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 40,000 Years of Dreaming (1997)

Dull, but Entertaining

In the last day for changing the course in the Melbourne University, the lesbian cinema student Mia (Frances O'Connor) misses her girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell), who is dating Savita (Suzi Dougherty), and is trapped in the bureaucracy of the university to transfer to another course. Her mate and best friend Alice (Alice Garner) is seeking out a roommate to share the expenses of their new house, and is alone trying to find a boyfriend that is left-handed and enjoys the same movies as she. Alice is having trouble to complete her thesis about Doris Day, and she has organized a party for that night in their house. Meanwhile the popular student of medicine Ari (Matthew Dyktynski) befriends the lonely Michael Douglas (Matt Day), who has difficulties to relate with girls and wants to move from his house. Ari introduces Michael to Mia and Alice and they invite him to their party. Along the night, Mia and Danny resolve their issues while Alice and Michael find that they have many points in common.

"Love and Other Catastrophes" is a dull, but entertaining low-budget movie. The story is extremely simple and boring in some moments, like for example, when Mia is fighting against the stupid bureaucracy of her university. Nevertheless, the cast is extremely charismatic and shows chemistry, and the young actors and actresses have great performances. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Amor e Outras Catástrofes" ("Love and Other Catastrophes")