
LOVE AND OTHER CATASTROPHES
Australia, 1986, 85 minutes, Colour.
Frances O' Connor, Radha Mitchell, Alice Garner, Matt Day, Kym Gyngell, Matthew Dyktynski, Paul Harris and Adrian Martin as himself.
Directed by Emma- Kate Croghan.
If you wonder what young students at University are like these days, then the verve of Love and Other Catastrophes will show you men and women, searching, struggling, studying, falling in and out of love with a blend of intensity and superficiality. It takes place over twenty four hours at Melbourne University. Students are looking for flats. Others are interviewing potential flatmates. Some are studying cinema and want to change courses. Others are trying to avoid meeting lecturers. Frances O' Connor is particularly good with persuasive support from Alice Garner and Matt Day. This film has proven very popular both critically and popularly. It is an example of how local films can be made freshly and economically. Shoestring success.
1. The popularity of the film on its release? Small budget? Future international stars?
2. The title, the focus on the emotional life of the young people, love, sexuality, betrayal, break-up?
3. The twenty-four hour structure of the film, the focus on the range of students, beginning their day, going to the university, the problems, the interactions, crises, the final party - and facing the future? Reconciliations?
4. The Melbourne settings, the university, the flats and the living quarters for the students? The musical score and songs?
5. The impact of the group, their age, experience, lack of experience, decisions for study, the distractions from study? An overview of students' life? Superficiality, depth?
6. Alice and her thesis on Doris Day, her wanting to find the right man, her awkwardness, incessant chatter, her avoiding her lecturer and then bumping into him, her work making coffee, the meeting with Ari, opening up to him, their discussions? Her friendship with Mia, sharing the apartment? Involved in Mia's problems, meeting the professor in the corridor and covering during the break-in? The cups of coffee, the time in the library? Her party, her going to her counsellor, discovering her inhibitions and her sense of freedom? The game about the three favourite films and why? Michael and his coming in, the same three films - and falling in love?
7. Mia and Danni, breaking up, their past relationship? Danni and the shopping, finding Savita, impatient with Mia, deciding to go to Savita's farm? Mia, her wanting to change departments, her going to the professor, his flattering her, turning against her when he knew what she wanted, refusing to sign the paper, his lecture on Hitchcock? Her having to pay a fine at the library? Going to the other department, wanting to do the course with Adrian Martin? The death of the professor? The break-in to get the stamp on her document, its success? Getting the application in? Going to the party, meeting Adrian Martin and discovering that he was going on sabbatical to France? The discussions with Danni, talk about their relationship in the third person, the reconciliation? The game with the three favourite films? A future with Danni? Her studies?
8. Danni, her relationship with Mia, the break-up, her being hurt, Mia's insensitivity, meeting with Savita, Savita not saying anything, Mia and her cracks against going to the farm? Her listening to Mia, the reconciliation?
9. Ari, in bed, getting money, his classics studies, wandering the campus, the student with his Catholic background wanting advice about circumcision? The talks with Alice, helping Mia with the break-in for the stamp? His future?
10. Michael, from the country, awkward, medical student, making verbal gaffes? His being unable to study with the noise? Wanting to change flats? The meetings with Alice, with Mia, the discussions, agreeing to pose as her cousin? The discussions with Ari, about medical studies? His going to the party, looking in the mirror, dressing up, his three favourite films coinciding with those of Alice? Having her criteria - even left-handed? A future?
11. The professor, his argument with his wife over custody on the phone? With Mia, change of attitude? Refusal to sign? His lecture on Hitchcock, the reaction of the students, his seeing the various Woody Allen-type characters, Spike Lee_? His sudden death?
12. Alice's supervisor, trying to find her, their crashing into each other? Adrian Martin, put on a pedestal, his going to France? The other members of faculties, lecturers, receptionists, secretaries?
13. The students on campus, their way of life, earnest, frivolous, relationships - love and other catastrophes?