IMDb > Looking for Alibrandi (2000)

Looking for Alibrandi (2000) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   1,552 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Kate Woods
Writers:
Melina Marchetta (novel)
Melina Marchetta (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Looking for Alibrandi on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 May 2000 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Sometimes what you're looking for is closer than you think...
Plot:
A teenage Australian girl deals with the traumas of everyday life. These include her difficult relationship with her single mother... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
7 wins & 11 nominations more
User Comments:
Delightful, Non-Stereotypical Look at Teens in Ethnic Community Down Under more (68 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Greta Scacchi ... Christina Alibrandi

Anthony LaPaglia ... Michael Andretti
Elena Cotta ... Katia Alibrandi
Kerry Walker ... Sister Louise (Nun)

Pia Miranda ... Josie Alibrandi

Kick Gurry ... Jacob Coote
Matthew Newton ... John Barton
Leanne Carlow ... Sera Conti
Diane Viduka ... Anna Selicic
Leeanna Walsman ... Carly Bishop
Michael Gallina ... Robert
Rosa DiMarte ... Patrizia
Domenico DiMarte ... Riccardo
Tyrone Lara ... Anton Valavic
Geoff Morrell ... Mr. Barton
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Australia
Language:
English | Italian
Color:
Color
Certification:
Iceland:L | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | New Zealand:M | Italy:T | Canada:PG
Filming Locations:
Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia more
Company:
Robyn Kershaw Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
There are thirteen tracks on the soundtrack album. Of these, three do not appear in the film - Killing Heidi's "Weir", Happyland's "Don't You Even Know Who I Am" and Lo-Tel 's "Teenager of the Year ". The trailer mentions two of these bands as being part of the soundtrack - Killing Heidi and Lo-tel - though none of their music is heard in the film. The Killing Heidi song is heard in the background of the trailer itself. The version of the song "Teenager of the Year " heard on the film is performed by Brenda Starr. Happyland are also heard performing "Tintarella Di Luna" during the film. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Christina was conceived in 1945, so born no later than 1946. She had Josie when she was seventeen years old, meaning Josie was born in early 1965 at the very latest (most likely earlier). Josie is seventeen in the film, which would point to a setting around 1980 (give or take). However, several things - costumes, use of mobile phones, musical references, city features, various props and decor items - come from around the turn of the century, some twenty years later. more
Quotes:
Josie Alibrandi: Wait, my father's a barrister,
Carly Bishop: She's lying! She doesn't have a father!
Josie Alibrandi: Yeah, that's right. And I'm the immaculate conception and my mother's the Virgin Mary!
more
Movie Connections:
References African Manhunt (1955) more
Soundtrack:
Piove (Ciao Ciao Bambina) more

FAQ

Chapter Headings, an unofficial version, v1.10:
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Delightful, Non-Stereotypical Look at Teens in Ethnic Community Down Under, 12 December 2005
9/10
Author: noralee from Queens, NY

I saw "Looking for Alibrandi" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Down Under Film Fest.

We so rarely get to see glimpses of Australia's ethnic immigrant communities. With shades of "Household Saints" and "Moonstruck" here's a coming-of-age movie set in Sydney's Little Italy.

The pluses and minuses of being a high school senior in a close-knit family and community are warmly and hilariously portrayed visually. (How do they keep their young 'uns at school and work when the beach laps practically onto the city streets?)

Co-star Anthony LaPaglia (as a very non-stereotypical Italian father), who did a "Q & A" after the movie, felt the Italian community portrayal accurately reflected his experiences growing up in Adelaide.

Faithfully based on a popular "Young Adult" novel (with a few plot changes), its lack of clichés about family and dating was refreshing -- the just out of reach Golden Boy is tormented by his own demons; the seductive Bad Boy is no lout, but captain of the opposing school's debate team with his own vulnerability issues.

The "curse" on the women in the family is quite touching and realistic, without simple Hollywood solutions.

While the Ozzies in the audience caught more of the jokes faster as the slang and native references kept the Americans dependent on context, do watch out to see this delightful movie where ever you can.

(originally written 10/7/2001)

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Message Boards

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Chapter Headings, v1.10: annevejb
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