Love's Brother (2004)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Jan Sardi

Writer:

Jan Sardi (written by)

Release Date:

1 April 2004 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Despairing of ever finding love, the insecure Angelo uses a photo of his handsome brother Gino to convince...

Plot Keywords:

Dead Parents | Fiancé Fiancée Relationship | Brother Brother Relationship | Italian Australian | Wedding Party

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Giovanni Ribisi	...	Angelo Donnini
Adam Garcia	...	Gino Donnini
Joe Petruzzi	...	Zio Luigi
Rodney Afif	...	Guido
Bruno Lucia	...	Paolo
Mario Di Ienno	...	Café Latino #1
Mark Sellito	...	Café Latino #2 (as Marco Sellitto)
Dina Panozzo	...	Zia Norma
John Bluthal	...	Pepe
Silvia De Santis	...	Connie
Barry Otto	...	Father Alfredo
Reg Mombassa	...	Gypsy Artist
Osvaldo Maione	...	Franco
Eleanor Bron	...	Signora Carmellina
Anna Burgess	...	Dancing Blonde

Runtime:

Australia:103 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:G (DVD rating) | Australia:G (original rating) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Movie Connections:

Features Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)

Soundtrack:

Oltre la tempesta

What a unique, wonderful movie!

I saw this movie at Cinema Paris at Fox Studios when I was in Sydney, Australia. Although the story has been done several times before, it is set amid a community of Italian immigrants in 1950's Australia, which makes it really unique.

Giovanni Ribisi (Angelo) is the only actor I was familiar with before this movie, but I have to say Adam Garcia (Gino) and Amelia Warner (Rosetta) steal the show. And they are both DROP DEAD gorgeous! Performance wise, I liked Sylvia de Santis (Connie) the best!

I loved how the characters evolve during the movie. Angelo seems to be weak and troubled emotionally, but turns out to be surprisingly robust. On the other hand, Gino, the more self-assured brother turns out to be quite vulnerable emotionally.

The music from Stephen Warbeck is wonderful. I especially liked the background music when Rosetta first sees the mural of Italy in the cafe. Andrew Lesnie's cinematography captures the beauty of both Italy and the Australian wilderness. And if these are the types of movies Jan Sardi continues to make, I want to see more.

You have to be a curmudgeon not to like this movie - it is so gentle and warm-hearted.