Love and Other Catastrophes

Love and Other Catastrophes
Love and Other Catastrophes
	2024 Blu-ray reissue cover
Directed by	Emma-Kate Croghan
Screenplay by	Yael Bergman; Emma-Kate Croghan; Helen Bandis
Story by	Stavros Kazantzidis
Produced by	Helen Bandis; Stavros Kazantzidis; Yael Bergman
Starring	Frances O'Connor; Alice Garner; Matthew Dyktynski; Matt Day; Radha Mitchell;
Cinematography	Justin Brickle
Edited by	Ken Sallows
Music by	Oleh Witer
Distributed by	Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release date	1 August 1996 (Australia);
Running time	79 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	$250,000 (est.)
Box office	$431,000; (US thru April 1997)

Love and Other Catastrophes is a quirky 1996 Australian romantic comedy film featuring Frances O'Connor, Radha Mitchell, Alice Garner, Matthew Dyktynski, Matt Day and Kym Gyngell. The film was the first full-length release by director Emma-Kate Croghan and is set and filmed at Melbourne University where she studied writing and film directing.

The film was nominated for five Australian Film Institute awards, including best film, best original screenplay, best actress, best supporting actress, and editing. Garner won a Film Critics Circle of Australia award for best supporting actress for her role in the movie. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 the soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.^[1]

In 2024, the film was restored and reissued on Blu-ray by Umbrella Entertainment.

Plot

The story revolves around University of Melbourne film studies students and roommates Mia (Frances O'Connor) and Alice (Alice Garner), each of whom is experiencing various upheavals. Mia and Alice have just moved into a trendy apartment but are in desperate need of a housemate. Mia's girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell) is keen to move in, but Mia fears commitment.

Obsessed with her favourite lecturer, Mia becomes embroiled in a war of paperwork with the university administration as she attempts to pursue him to his new department. She is hampered in her efforts to transfer by her current supervisor Professor Leach (Kym Gyngell). To add to her woes she then breaks up with her girlfriend, Danni. Danni pursues another love interest, in part to get back at Mia.

Alice, a habitual perfectionist, is four years late with her thesis on 'Doris Day as Feminist Warrior'. She is looking for the perfect man but can't find anyone who fits her strict criteria. Frustrated, she falls for the most unsuitable male possible... Ari (Matthew Dyktynski), a classics student and part-time gigolo. However she is the object of desire of shy medical student, Michael (Matt Day).

As the day ends and the party begins events begin to unscramble in unexpected ways. Omnia Vincit Amor... Love Conquers All.

Cast

Matt Day as Michael Douglas
Matthew Dyktynski as Ari
Alice Garner as Alice
Frances O'Connor as Mia
Radha Mitchell as Danni
Suzi Dougherty as Savita
Kim Gyngell as Professor Richard Leach
Suzanne Dowling as Dr. Russell
Torquil Neilson as Toby
Christine Stephen-Daly as Susan
Dominic McDonald as Zac
Alvin Chong as Alvin
Myles Collins as Myles
Antony Neate as Tony
Brigid Kelly as Brigid

Music

Love and Other Catastrophes features music by many bands including:

Daryl McKenzie – "Manhattan Walk"
Velvet Underground – "Sunday Morning"
The Cruel Sea – "Just a Man"
Dave Graney & The Coral Snakes – "You're Just Too Hip Baby"
Underground Lovers – "Recognize"
Godstar – "Pushpin"
Rebecca's Empire – "Empty"
Tumbleweed – "TV Genocide"
Spdfgh – "Steal Mine"
Tex, Don and Charlie – "Fake That Emotion"
Monday Michiru – "Rainy Daze"
The Boners – "Perils of Mia"
The Cardigans – "Carnival"
Bellydance – "Bubbles (Pigs Will Fly)"
Blue Mink – "Can You Feel It Baby"
Simon Holmes and Morgana Ancone – "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)"
Died Pretty – "Good at Love"

Box office

Love and Other Catastrophes grossed $1,687,929 at the box office in Australia,.^[2]

References

^ ARIA Award previous winners. "History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 July 2022.
^ "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.

External links

[OST-1] ARIA Award previous winners. "History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 July 2022.

[2] "Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.

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