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Only the Brave (1994 film)

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Only the Brave
Directed byAna Kokkinos
Written byAna Kokkinos
Mira Robertson
Produced byFiona Eagger
Rina Reiss
Chris Warner
StarringElena Mandalis
Dora Kaskanis
CinematographyJaems Grant
Edited byMark Atkin
Music byPhilip Brophy
Release date
  • 1994 (1994)
Running time
59 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box officeA$75,921 (Australia)[1]

Only the Brave is a 1994 Australian film directed by Ana Kokkinos. It focuses on two young Greek Australian friends, Alex (Elena Mandalis) and Vicki (Dora Kaskanis) in Melbourne’s Western suburbs. It received acclaim upon release, winning Best Film at the Melbourne International Film Festival and Best Short Film at the 1994 Australian Film Institute Awards.[2][3]

Several of the actors (Mandalis, Kaskanis & Eugenia Fragos) were later cast in Greek Australian roles in Kokkinos' 1998 drama film, Head On.[4]

Synopsis

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Two adolescent second generation Greek Australian friends, Alex and Vicki, live in Melbourne's Western suburbs. Vicki has a challenging home-life, she is sexually abused at home by her father and bored at school. Alex, meanwhile, misses her mother and is struggling with her sexuality as she becomes attracted to her teacher, Kate, and falls in love with Vicki. Amid these struggles, the girls hang out, commit arson and find solace in spending time together.[5]

Cast

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Release

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The film received premieres and screenings at many film festivals around the world, including: Sundance Film Festival, 1994 Toronto International Film Festival, 51st Venice International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, London Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Cork Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Antipodean Film Festival, Frameline Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.[6] It was also showcased in Strictly Oz: A History of Australian Film, a feature exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.[6][7]

In Australia, the film premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival.[6]

Reception

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The film received acclaim, with film critic Emanuel Levy writing in Variety: "A harrowing, ultra-realistic coming-of-age portrait of a group of tough teenage girls, “Only the Brave” is a new Australian film of astonishing, raw power." Levy continued to praise the "sharply observant script" and how it has "the novelty of portraying alienation and rites of passage among girls whose ethnic minority (Australians of Greek descent) accentuates their marginal positions and feelings." Levy also praised Kokkinos' direction: "in congruence with her brilliantly naturalistic direction, Kokkinos imbues the picture with alert intelligence and depth, successfully resisting the more clinical strategy of American movies of the week."[8]

Australia's National Film and Sound Archive curator and film critic, Paul Byrnes writing: "it was clear evidence that a major new voice (Kokkinos) had arrived in Australian film... the film showed that Kokkinos had an uncompromising ambition to tell powerful and personal stories."[9]

It also went on to win several awards:[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Australian Films at the Australian Box Office", Film Victoria accessed 13 November 2012
  2. ^ a b c d Only the Brave ACMI. Retrieved on 13 July 2024
  3. ^ a b Melbourne International Film Festival Screen Australia. Retrieved on 13 July 2024
  4. ^ a b c Only the Brave: 'Everyone has to do it, Alex' National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved on 14 July 2024
  5. ^ Monaghan, Whitney (July 2017). "Girlhood Wild and Queer: Ana Kokkinos's Only The Brave (1994)". Senses of Cinema.
  6. ^ a b c Selected Awards and Festivals Screen Australia. Retrieved on 13 July 2024
  7. ^ Strictly Oz: A History of Australian Film The Museum of Modern Art. April 1995
  8. ^ Only the Brave Variety. 31 July 1994
  9. ^ Only the Brave National Film and Sound Archive. Retrieved on 13 July 2024
  10. ^ Frameline - San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Screen Australia. Retrieved on 13 July 2024
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