The Sum of Us (1994)

A widowed father has to deal with two complex issues: while he is searching for "Miss Right," his son, who is in his 20s and gay, is searching for "Mr. Right."

Directors:

Geoff Burton, Kevin Dowling

Writers:

David Stevens (screenplay), David Stevens (play)

Stars:

Jack Thompson, Russell Crowe, John Polson

6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Thompson	...	Harry Mitchell
Russell Crowe	...	Jeff Mitchell
John Polson	...	Greg
Deborah Kennedy	...	Joyce Johnson
Joss Moroney	...	Young Jeff
Mitch Mathews	...	Gran
Julie Herbert	...	Mary
Des James	...	Football Coach
Mick Campbell	...	Footballer
Donny Muntz	...	Ferry Captain
Jan Adele	...	Barmaid
Rebekah Elmaloglou	...	Jenny Johnson
Lola Nixon	...	Desiree
Sally Cahill	...	Greg's Mother
Bob Baines	...	Greg's Father

Storyline

Set in Sydney, Australia. A (heterosexual) father and his gay son are trying to find Ms/Mr Right respectively. The film shows their relationships with one another and the objects of their affection as tradgedy strikes. There is no overt 'message' in the film, just a very natural, entertaining story-telling.

---

Plot Keywords:

sydney australia | australia | approving father | homosexual son | breaking the fourth wall | 

---

Taglines:

How's a guy supposed to find Mr. Right when his dad won't stop trying to help?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the film, Jack Thompson and John Polson both reprised their roles from the stage production.

---

Quotes

Harry Mitchell: Your grandmother said that to me once. 'The greatest explorers', she said, 'are the explorers of the human heart'.
Jeff Mitchell: Is that why she became a dyke?
Harry Mitchell: Your grandmother was not a dyke!
Jeff Mitchell: She was licking Aunt Mary's pussy for forty years, what else do you call it?
Harry Mitchell: She was not a dyke! A lesbian, perhaps... You shouldn't call her names! How would you like it if I went around and called you 'pansy', 'fairy', 'poofter'?
Jeff Mitchell: You do half the time!
Harry Mitchell: Only when I'm annoyed with you!

---

Connections

Featured in Century of Cinema: 40,000 years of dreaming (1997)

---

Soundtracks

It Will Be Alright
Written by Jimmy Barnes, Jeff Neill
Performed by Jimmy Barnes
Courtesy of Mushroom Records

User Reviews

Personable, Sincere and utterly Australian

This movie took me by surprise, it is personable, sincere and utterly Australian. It explores its themes in a beautiful manner, through the relationships between family, especially father and son. Don't be put off by Russel Crowe. I myself almost didn't watch it because he was in it, but I have to say, he did a brilliant job. He took the character and made it his own, and I feel no one else could have played the part any better. Take into account that this movie was originally a stage play, so there are various monologues and direct engagement with the audience. This at first is a little surprising and perhaps even uncomfortable, as we are so used to being purely observers when watching a movie. After initial surprise however I found the technique refreshing, it gave the film a more personable and intimate quality. I revel in how Australian this film is, the fact that I use the same brands of mustard and soy sauce which at one point appeared at the dinner table, made me unusually delighted and also pulled me into the realism which the film tries and succeeds in conveying. At risk of sounding patriotic, it almost made me proud to be Australian. This is probably one of my favourite movies, in its exploration of love and how it should not be dictated by the limits of our society.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Sum of Us

Filming Locations:

Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD3,465,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$38,479, 12 March 1995

Gross USA:

$766,464

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$766,464

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Great Sum Film Limited Partnership, Southern Star Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1