Romulus, My Father (2007)

Director:

Richard Roxburgh

Writers:

Nick Drake
Raimond Gaita (memoir)

Release Date:

31 May 2007 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The Bond Between a Father and His Son Can Never Be Broken

Plot:

It tells the story of Romulus, his beautiful wife, Christina, and their struggle in the face of great adversity to bring up their son, Raimond. It is a story of impossible love that ultimately celebrates the unbreakable bond between father and son.

Plot Keywords:

Love | German | Victoria | Romanian | Best Friend

Awards:

9 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Eric Bana	...	Romulus
Franka Potente	...	Christina
Marton Csokas	...	Hora
Kodi Smit-McPhee	...	Raimond
Russell Dykstra	...	Mitru
Jacek Koman	...	Vacek
Alethea McGrath	...	Mrs. Lillie
Terry Norris	...	Tom Lillie
Esme Melville	...	Miss Collard
Nick Peace	...	Teacher
Geoffrey Graham	...	Man in Cafe
Trevor Nesbitt	...	Man in Cafe
Zoe Boesen	...	Young Woman in Cafe
Briega Young	...	Young Woman in Cafe
Laurie Jensen	...	Taxi Driver
Eve Parker	...	Baby Susan
Tom McCathie	...	Bearded Man
Veronica Sywak	...	Lidia Vukovic
Madeleine Greaves	...	Alice
Felicity Soper	...	Alice's Mother
Maddison Gargiulo	...	Toddler Susan
Simon Maiden	...	Town Lad
Gavin Alexander	...	Policeman
Andrew Finlay	...	Policeman
Rhys McConnochie	...	Headmaster
John Arnold	...	Priest
Julie Forsyth	...	Nurse
Bodie Janka	...	Toddler Rai
Heather Mitchell	...	Television Presenter

Directed by
Richard Roxburgh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nick Drake
Raimond Gaita		memoir

Produced by
Robert Connolly	....	producer
Gary Hamilton	....	executive producer
John Maynard	....	producer
Andrew Myer	....	executive producer
Michelle Russell	....	line producer
Victor Syrmis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Basil Hogios

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Simpson

Film Editing by
Suresh Ayyar

Casting by
Ann Robinson

Production Design by
Robert Cousins

Art Direction by
Simon McCutcheon

Costume Design by
Jodie Fried

Makeup Department
Angela Conte	....	hair designer
Angela Conte	....	makeup designer
Anna Gray	....	makeup artist
Kellie Griffin	....	makeup artist
Helen Magelaki	....	wig maker

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Connolly	....	second unit director
Alex Reid	....	additional assistant director
Hamish Roxburgh	....	assistant director

Art Department
Honi Keller	....	buyer
Honi Keller	....	set dresser
Janine Marshall	....	hero props painter
Robert Molnar	....	set dresser
Tam Morris	....	storyboard artist
Rolland Pike	....	senior set dresser
Tuesday Stone	....	graphics/art department assistant

Sound Department
Yulia Akerholt	....	dialogue editor
James Andrews	....	sound effects editor
Les Fiddess	....	foley artist
Phil Heywood	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Johnston	....	foley editor
Leah Katz	....	atmospheres editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Sam Petty	....	sound designer
Jonathan Rimas	....	adr mixer
Mark J. Wasiutak	....	boom operator
Gary Wilkins	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Simon Alberry	....	I/O supervisor
Brad Dunn	....	digital compositor
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital supervisor
Brad Floyd	....	compositor: Atlab
Jamie Hediger	....	digital compositor
Michelle Hunt	....	digital compositor
Dee McClelland	....	telecine colourist

Stunts
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Tov Belling	....	first assistant camera
Chris Child	....	second assistant camera
Chris Hansford	....	a cam dolly grip
Rob Hansford	....	key grip

Casting Department
Julie de Fina	....	casting assistant
Jane Norris	....	location and extra casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Simone Culley	....	costume stand-by
Robyn Elliott	....	costume supervisor (as Robyn Elliot)

Editorial Department
Olivier Fontenay	....	film timer
Adam Khamis	....	editor: behind-the-scenes
Cheryl Potter	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
James K. Lee	....	music preparation
Jessica Wells	....	music preparation
Danielle Wiessner	....	score music production supervisor

Other crew
John Fairhead	....	safety supervisor: second unit
Katherine Fry	....	script supervisor
Tiffany Garonzi	....	production secretary
Jen Gasson	....	assistant: Mr. Bana
Christine Hutchins	....	production coordinator
David Lawrance	....	laboratory liaison
Alex McCrossin	....	assistant location manager
Sara Moroney	....	assistant accountant
Fiona O'Connell	....	researcher
Alex Reid	....	runner
Geoff Wilkie	....	production runner
Cameron Wood	....	location manager

Thanks
Silvia Colloca	....	special thanks
Andrew Mackie	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Arenafilm

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Footprint Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Grand Brilliance (2008) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• CK Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Delta Pictures (2007) (Italy) (all media)
• High Fliers Distribution (2010) (UK) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Pinema (2009) (Turkey) (all media) (distributor)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sookie Pictures (2012) (South Korea) (all media)

Other Companies

• Cameraquip Australia  camera equipment provided by
• Audioloc Sound Design  foley services & sound re-recording facilities
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Linear Recording  score recorded at
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio
• Melbourne Film Office  filmed with the assistance of
• Showfilm  travel agent

Also Known As:

"Dear My Father" - Japan (English title) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, some violence and brief language

Runtime:

104 min | Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Arenafilm

Trivia:

Many of the cast members have close to the same origins as their characters. Eric Bana, Franka Potente, and Marton Csokas all have large family ties to Europe.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene in the diner in which Christina plays a record on the jukebox, the jukebox is marked "Stereophonic." In 1962, stereophonic jukeboxes didn't exist and 45 rpm records (which is what the jukebox in the film plays) were mono only.

Quotes:

Raimond:Excuse me, who was that singing?
[indicates gramophone]
Girl on the porch:Jerry Lee Lewis. They call him the Killer.
Raimond:Why?
Girl on the porch:Because he kills people I guess.

Soundtrack:

My Prayer

A quintessential Australian movie.

My wife and I watched this excellent movie several hours ago in Fremantle and we both share similar feelings about this engrossing yet difficult film. My comment is in no way meant to demean anything about the film, rather it is simply a sign-post to direct some people to other films because it is a difficult movie to watch; it fleshes in segments of people's lives that, as a rule, are not brought to light--they remain closeted and spoken of in muted voices when they are spoken of at all.

In my opinion, Australian movies are a massively unique sub-species of what could generally be tagged "art-house" movies--movies that are drawn in colours that do not reflect anything remotely from Hollywood. These movies have certain characteristics: they are most obviously short on dialogue; the Australian landscape is so strong that it becomes another principle character in the film; there is not even a hint of "glitz"; the script is as close to reality as any viewer would likely want to get and the cinematography is bold, using close-ups and strong contrasts to accentuate the on-screen drama. Romulous, My Father had all of these elements and they were masterfully blended into an unforgettable movie.

The script was based on the memoirs of the boy who dominates the movie. Eric Bana, the father, takes top billing but the son is equal to Bana's brilliant portrayal. Diane and I talked on the way home today that we knew adults who were that boy. We did not know these families when the friends were small but we know the elements that combined to mirror the script we just watched on the screen. Change a few scenes here and there and it is all so similar. Australia is the story we saw today many times repeated.

I would recommend this film to Australians because it is the story of our neighbors or workmates and I would recommend it to people from the world over as a quintessential Australian film as well as an insight into who we are.