Flirting (1991)

Two freethinking teenagers - a boy and a girl - confront with authoritarian teachers in their boarding schools. The other students treat this differently.

Director:

John Duigan

Writer:

John Duigan

Stars:

Noah Taylor, Thandie Newton, Nicole Kidman

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noah Taylor	...	Danny Embling
Thandie Newton	...	Thandiwe Adjewa
Nicole Kidman	...	Nicola
Bartholomew Rose	...	'Gilby' Fryer
Felix Nobis	...	Jock Blair
Josh Picker	...	'Backa' Bourke
Kiri Paramore	...	'Slag' Green
Marc Aden Gray	...	Christopher Laidlaw (as Marc Gray)
Gregg Palmer	...	Colin Proudfoot
Joshua Marshall	...	'Cheddar' Fedderson
David Wieland	...	'Possum' Piper
Craig Black	...	'Pup' Pierdon
Les Hill	...	Greg Gilmore (as Leslie Hill)
Jeff Truman	...	Mr. Morris Cutts
Marshall Napier	...	Mr. Rupert Elloitt

Storyline

Danny has been sent to boarding school, in this sequel to The Year My Voice Broke. Against a backdrop of bullying and sadistic teachers Danny strikes up an affair with an African girl, Thandiwe, studying at a nearby girl's school. Their affair blossoms while everyone tries to stop it. Nicole Kidman also appears as a sexually repressed senior at Thandiwe's school.

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Plot Keywords:

school | teacher | bullying | boarding school | male pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

Here's to risks

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of teen sexuality

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Флирт

Filming Locations:

New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,125, 8 November 1992

Gross USA:

$2,415,396

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,415,396

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Thandie Newton. NOTE: She co-starred here with Nicole Kidman; she later co-starred with Kidman's ex, Tom Cruise, in Mission: Impossible II (2000).

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Quotes

Nicola Radcliffe: So what did you actually do together?
Thandiwe Adjewa: I beg your pardon?
Nicola Radcliffe: No, it's all right. You don't have to tell me. I think... if I liked somebody enough... I'd want to...
Thandiwe Adjewa: Have you ever?
Nicola Radcliffe: Of course not.
Thandiwe Adjewa: Almost?
Nicola Radcliffe: Well... Do you remember the young guy who was fixing the bell tower? I used to take him a cup of tea each morning before assembly. I rather liked him even though he never said anything much. I used to... close my eyes... and sit on a chair... and let him touch me all over... as long as he promised ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 1992 (1993)

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Soundtracks

The Moochie
Written by Duke Ellington (as Ellington) / Irving Mills (as Mills) (Belwin Mills Music/Leosong)
Performed by Sidney Bechet
Courtesy BMG Arista Ariola

User Reviews

An Australian Wonder Years

Those who've watched The Wonder Years will recognise the style of storytelling here. The main character is also the narrator, there's an ongoing reference to world events, there are adolescents growing into maturity, and there are some wonderfully rounded and recognisable individuals.

Both main characters experience discrimination, including in Thandie Newton's case, racial discrimination both overt and implied - e.g. an Australian lad says to her "Your English is very good", to which she responds "So is yours"!

On the surface it's just a coming-of-age school story, but the film continually rises above this to greater heights of poignancy and subtlety.

Nicole Kidman is brilliant in the difficult role of the head of school who apparently has it all until, in one of the most moving moments of the film, her true self is revealed.