The Combination (2009)

Set in the multi-racial suburbs of Sydney, Lebanese-Australian John is released from goal to find his younger brother Charlie caught in the very same world of crime that put him behind bars.

Director:

David Field

Writer:

George Basha

Stars:

George Basha, Firass Dirani, Doris Younane

Cast

Credited cast:
George Basha	...	John Morkos
Firass Dirani	...	Charlie
Doris Younane	...	Mary
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rahel Abdulrahman	...	Mo
Clare Bowen	...	Sydney
John Brumpton	...	Mr. Roberts
Rashad Dehan	...	Tom
Michael Denkha	...	Ibo
Adam Grossetti	...	Neighbour
Ali Haider	...	Zeus
Benjamin Barrymore Hanly	...	Police Officer
Melissa Kleores	...	Police Officer
Johnny Lahoud	...	Issa
Guang Li	...	Nipper
Tyrone Lindqvist	...	Lesley

Storyline

Set in the maligned western suburbs of Sydney, Lebanese-Australian John gets out of gaol to discover his younger brother Charlie is caught up with drugs, hookers and crime. Charlie oscillates between the streets and school. Daily clashes between Scott and Charlie's gang escalate. This feud spills into the streets in a territory and identity battle that turns bloody. The Combination dares to shed light on the racial tension that has often boiled over into incidents like the Cronulla riots. Suburban stereotypes are challenged when John falls for an Australian girl named Sydney. She presents an opportunity for a new start - yet with each step closer to her he is made painfully aware of the choice he will have to make - family or love.

---

Plot Keywords:

drug | sydney australia | suburbia | australia | race riot | 

---

Taglines:

Come see the real Australia

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 2009 (Australia)

Filming Locations:

Bankstown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

See Thru Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Color (HD)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Perrie (producer) originally came to this project as a script editor after a chance encounter with director David Field. John and David were both holidaying on the south coast when their children started playing together.

---

Goofs

John drives to Ibo's house to deal with him, and ends up WALKING back home without his car for no apparent reason.

User Reviews

You came in with plains, and you - in chains

I wanted to watch something boring. I chose to watch The Combination. The beginning didn't promise me much, I even had to check if this was an Australian film, and actually it was!

I am neither Australian nor Lebanese, but I have met both cultures for at least a brief moment in my lifetime. So the question when watching a story of Lebanese in Australia was: are the facts just? Is this real? It is. Although people are depicted differently from those I have seen in the real world, parts of them that are true and up to a point are also shown.

Is the material educative? Yes. You can remember your history lessons, fighting skills, and how to be romantic.

Will you be bored? I was not.