THE WOGBOY

Australia, 1999, 85 minutes, Colour.
Nick Giannopoulos, Lucy Bell, Vince Colosimo, Geraldine Turner, Stephen Curry, Charles "Bud" Tingwell.
Directed by Aleksi Vellis.

The Wogboy is the work of Nick Giannopoulos, who is the co-writer and star. It is based on stage performances in Melbourne, especially Wogs Out of Work. Giannopoulos has the skill to draw on all the eccentric characteristics of ethnic groups, especially his own Greek background, in Australia. He presents them, the prejudices - but in a way that elicits smiles rather than racism. He is able to draw the fine line. In this film, besides the Greek background, he has Vince Colosimo as his best Italian friend plus a number of Italians, Jugoslavs who are criminals, Vietnamese who are emulating the Italian stud style.

The target of the film and its satire is corrupt government, embodied by a rather nymphomaniac Minister for Employment played by Geraldine Turner.

Another target of the film is the media. Giannopoulos plays an out-of-work young man who challenges the minister after crashing into her car. She decides to use him for her own purposes, her policies, her being in cahoots with seven of the leaders of industry, helping them to get cheap labour under alleged "Help the Unemployed" schemes. The issues are taken up by Derryn Hinch, playing himself, using his television style as well as a lot of his catchphrases. Hinch allows himself to be the target of satire.

Lucy Bell plays the assistant to the minister, is antagonistic towards Giannopoulos, helps in framing him, gradually begins to understand him - and, of course, falls in love with him. In the meantime her sister, who can't resist men, falls in love with Giannopoulos's best friend, Vince Colosimo, who can't resist women. The film ends with true love.

There are a lot of good one-liners, some observations on the ethnic mix in Australia, some targeting of politics and its hypocrisies.

1. An entertaining satire? Romance? For the Australian audience? How comprehensible to a non-Australian audience?

2. The Melbourne settings, the suburban streets, the particular streets inhabited by Italians, Greeks? The political buildings? Restaurants and cafes? The range of ethnic backgrounds, the Greeks, the Italians, the Jugoslavs, the Vietnamese - and even the Irish priest at the end?

3. The title, its acceptability, irony? As portrayed in the film: Steve telling his story, the picture of his father and his one shoe coming to Australia, his mother with the other shoe (and Giannopoulos acting these parts himself)? At home, watching television and Skippy, at school, his huge lunch, his being picked on by the kids calling him Wogboy? His deciding to use the epithet as something positive?

4. Steve and his being out of work, the pressure from his mother, his being asked to help out - especially by the man who was faking his injuries and the supercilious officer at the employment office (Kym Gyngell)? His later helping Steve by holding up the police car? Steve and his being best friends with Frankie? Frankie and the Italians, the pizza makers? The two Vietnamese assistants listening to every word of Frankie and trying to emulate him, even getting wigs with curls? The Italian cousin at the pharmacy, his gambling, his wanting money, his setting up the drug house in his basement? The Jugoslavs and their being heavies? His crashing into the minister's car and the beginning of his adventures?

5. The consequences of the crash, his standing his ground, the defiance of Celia and the minister? His decision to ask for the compensation? The minister giving it but having her own plans? Bringing him to the public's attention via the investigative journalism of television? His being presented as a dole bludger, a cheat? His reaction, wanting to go on television with Derryn Hinch, his going on, saying sensible things, his being popular and getting fan mail? The minister changing her tactics? Inviting him to a further television interview, agreeing with him, getting him to be a hero for the unemployed? His attraction towards Celia? Going to the office, having nothing to do, the discussions with Nathan (and the satire about it being the equivalent of dole bludging in having lunches with Steven explaining the various sandwiches, and fixing the photocopier being jammed and bunging the computers)? The posters, the range of photos, the image for the Wogboy? His going to the dinner, his criticisms of the cuisine, his ordering in pizza and everybody enjoying it, his speech about employment and the image of making the pizza - everybody applauding? His falling out with Frankie by asking him to leave the restaurant? His resisting the minister sexually? Her antagonism towards him? Getting her assistant to get the dirt on him, the video with him and Frankie in the basement with the drugs being made, Hinch presenting it on-screen? In the meantime Steve and his getting to know Celia, the meal, the night together, going to the office, the expose, her not believing it? The finale with the media show, his trying to get into the grounds, the police who had previously stopped him in his car (with the young woman admiring the car)? His getting in, Frankie being arrested, Celia and her finding out about the sex line from Nathan? Her putting in the video with the minister cavorting with the two Vietnamese? Her disgrace, his vindication?

6. Celia, her sister, the sister and her boyfriends? Wanting to take Celia out? The encounter with Steve after the crash? Her disdain? Seeing him at the nightclub with Frankie? The change of tactic, his being employed, her mellowing? Outings, the dinner, her speaking Italian and getting the admiration of the restaurateurs? The night with him? The aftermath, seeing the video about the drug laboratory, her disillusionment, righting the wrongs, the video and the vindication of Steve?

7. Frank, his Italian background, work with pizza, womanising, with Annie? Supportive of Steve - but then clashing with him, feeling humiliated? The accusations against Steve, his rallying round, combining with the friends, the video and vindicating Steve? Relationship with Annie?

8. Celia and Annie, their relationship, Annie and her boyfriends, attracted towards Frank, Celia's wariness, Annie taking her out, Celia becoming less prim?

9. The supporting characters in the shop, Dom, his ambitions, owing money to the crime boss? The threats? His getting out of trouble? Theo and his wanting to get the insurance and throw himself under the car? Frank's dad, Mario, and his slamming the pizza dough?

10. Raelene Beagle-Thorpe?, Minister for Employment, the car, her imperious attitude, with Celia, attacking Steve, change of heart, exploiting him on television, humiliating him? Her department, her sexual prowess? The irony of the secret line and her succumbing to it? Her debating with Steve on television? The dinner and bringing in pizza? Her schemes, her liaisons with the businessmen? The plans? Her using the video against Steve? The irony of his using the video against her, her being with the Vietnamese? Her humiliation - and the poke and satire at politicians and their private lives?

11. The meek young man in the office, his ambitions, help from Steve, helping Steve in return?

12. The bureaucrats, especially the supercilious man at the counter of the employment office?

13. A timely film at the end of the 20th century for Australians to look back over the migrant heritage - and see the comic side of it?