The Heartbreak Kid (1993 film)

The Heartbreak Kid is a 1993 Australian film starring Claudia Karvan and Alex Dimitriades, which was based on a play of the same name by Richard Barrett and first performed by Griffin Theatre Company. It was later spun off into the television series Heartbreak High.

The Heartbreak Kid
1993 VHS cover
Directed byMichael Jenkins
Produced byBen Gannon
Written byMichael Jenkins
Richard Barrett
StarringClaudia Karvan
Alex Dimitriades
Nico Lathouris
Steve Bastoni
Louis Mandylor
Esme Melville
Scott Major
Bao Quach
Harry Shiamaris
Distributed byVillage Roadshow
Release date
17 June 1993
Running time
93 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Christina Papadopoulos (Claudia Karvan) is a sweet and well-meaning 22-year-old school teacher, engaged to ambitious lawyer Dimitri (Steve Bastoni). Christina's entire future seems planned out for her—albeit planned by her fiancé, her father and her priest.

Lively 17-year-old Nick Polides (Alex Dimitriades) is a student in Christina's class. Nick and Christina find themselves attracted to each other as both begin to rebel against the constricting Greek-Australian cultural restraints put upon them.

When Christina becomes the Coach of the school's soccer team, she and Nick begin to spend more time together outside of school hours. Soon their mutual attraction ignites into an illicit, passionate affair centred around child abuse by a female teacher of a student in her care.

Cast

Soundtrack
  1. "The Heartbreak Kid" (John Clifford White) — John Clifford White
  2. "Teacher I Need You" (Elton John and Bernie Taupin) — Stephen Cummings
  3. "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) — The Persuasions
  4. "I Can Just (Lose Myself in You)" (Brian Cadd and David Hirschfelder) — Lisa Edwards
  5. "Vision" (Ashley Rothchild, James MacKinnon, Sean Fonti) — Caligula
  6. "One" (Paul Hewson, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., David Evans) — U2
  7. "True Love" (Art Neville, Daryl Johnson, Hawk Wolinski) — The Neville Brothers
  8. "Great Palaces of Immortal Splendour" (Single Gun Theory) — Single Gun Theory
  9. "Words Written Backwards" (Single Gun Theory) — Single Gun Theory
  10. "Mozart Requiem, K626 – Introitus" (Mozart) — Mezzo Soprano, Cecilia Bartoli, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  11. "Mozart Requiem, K626 – Lacrimosa" (Mozart) — Mezzo Soprano, Cecilia Bartoli, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  12. "Looking for Nick" (John Clifford White)
  13. "Father and Son" (John Clifford White)
  14. "Anthem" (John Clifford White)

Production

Mike Jenkins developed the script with Richard Barrett, who wrote the original play, over two years, doing around seven drafts. Jenkins and the cast then rehearsed for three weeks.[1]

Box office

The Heartbreak Kid took in A$2,658,819 at the box office, making it the 74th most successful Australian film (1966–2008).[2]

Awards and nominations

The Heartbreak Kid received three Australian Film Institute Award nominations in 1993, in the categories of Best Supporting Actor (Nico Lathouris), Best Director (Michael Jenkins) and Best Film (Ben Gannon). The film was nominated for and won Best Screenplay at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1993.[3]

Criticisms for the glorification of child abuse.

The film has been criticised in modern times for glorifying child sexual abuse by teachers. Whilst the teacher is female and the student is male, the power imbalance and abuse by the teacher remain clear and unexcused in the film, with the student and teacher blissfully in love at the conclusion.

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References
  1. Pat Gillespie, "Mike Jenkins: The Heartbreak Kid", Cinema Papers, August 1993 p18-21
  2. "Top 100 Australian films at the Australian box office, 1966–2008". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  3. "1993 FFM Awards". World Film Festival of Montreal. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
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