Bad Boy Bubby (1993)

Bubby has spent thirty years trapped in the same small room, tricked by his mother. One day, he manages to escape, and, deranged and naive in equal measures, his adventure into the modern and nihilistic life begins.

Director:

Rolf de Heer

Writer:

Rolf de Heer

Stars:

Nicholas Hope, Claire Benito, Ralph Cotterill

9 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicholas Hope	...	Bubby
Claire Benito	...	Mam
Ralph Cotterill	...	Pop
Syd Brisbane	...	Yobbo
Nikki Price	...	Screaming Woman
Ullie Birve	...	Robbed Woman (as Ulli Birve)
Audine Leith	...	Fondled Salvo
Natalie Carr	...	Cherie the Salvo
Lucia Mastrantone	...	Pizza Waitress
Carmel Johnson	...	Angel
Jip De Heer	...	Treelopper
James Ammitzboll	...	Little
Grant Piro	...	Salesman
Celine O'Leary	...	Woman in Mercedes
Dave Flannagan	...	Cop / Warder (as Dave Flanagan)

Storyline

Bad Boy Bubby is just that: a bad boy. So bad, in fact, that his mother has kept him locked in their house he's not entering middle age, by convincing him the air outside's poisonous. After a visit from his estranged father, circumstances force Bubby into the waiting world, a place which is just as unusual to him as he is to the world.

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Plot Keywords:

adult son lives with mother | captivity | resocialization | social adjustment | mentally handicapped person | 

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Taglines:

He's been in his room for 35 years. It's time to let him out!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

There were 32 different Directors of Photography during the shoot. The idea was to have a different D.P. for every new place that Bubby went to not only give the film more of an experimental feel, but also to eliminate the worry of having to always have the same crew on set every day.

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Quotes

Bubby: I think Angel is beautiful.
Angel's Father: She's a fat slut.
Angel's Mother: Watch what you say, dear.
Angel's Father: Better be known that she's a fat slut.
Angel's Mother: If God had wanted us to be fat, he'd just made us all the same way, wouldn't he? But he didn't! God doesn't like fat people! Fat people are an abomination in his eyes!

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits play over a scene showing Bubby playing in a garden with his children.

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Alternate Versions

The 18-rated UK release of this film was cut by 3s for the cinema version and a further 20s for video. The 3s cut for the cinema version was to remove a scene of a tethered cat being pulled by a string (a scene which contravened the UK Animals Act). All the cuts were waived for the 2007 DVD release.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Boy Bubby: Being Bubby (2005)

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Soundtracks

Bad Boy Bubby Blues
Devised by Peter Monaghan

User Reviews

a mad ride through Chauncy's Garden

Bad Boy Bubby had been recommended to me while I was living in Australia in 1995. I picked it up at the video shop a few times and put it back, intimidated by its disturbing subject matter. Since returning to the States, I have developed a strong fondness for all films Australian and went to check this out when it finally premiered at the UC Theater in Berkeley. Several people walked out, but I was fascinated by this dark, perverse but ultimately (hang in there if you start to watch) very uplifting film. Bubby is Forrest Gump in hell, and the jaw dropping claustrophobia and dysfunction of his world is a sewer to escape from. But Bubby has a kind heart and a decent soul and much bravery is accomplished in his escape from his lifelong confinement. Severely disabled people are treated with dignity and attention which is very rare in film. I would highly recommend this film to the open minded.

Details

Official Sites:

Blue Underground Umbrella Entertainment - Blu Ray

Country:

Australia Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Boy Bubby

Filming Locations:

College Street, Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$750,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bubby, Fandango, The South Australian Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1