videorama-759-859391 Here's just another product of great Australian filmmaking. Of course, due to the subject, this film's not gonna be everybody's taste. Certainly something different, a movie about a Greek gay boy, does make this film refreshingly original, some scenes hard to stomach for us homo sapiens. What makes Head On so good, is Ari's character, free as the wind, probably creating a lot of envy towards closeted homosexuals. You can't help Ari, because he says what he wants to say and does what he wants to do. A leopard can't change it's spots. You were born gay, you stay gay, that's it. One of his close family is a drag queen, who he's there for, the family disgraced by him. The scene in the taxi near the end of the movie when they get pulled over by the police is hysterically funny, an antidote of amusement amongst the heavy and depressing scenes of Ari's non acceptance, because of his sexuality. What follows when they're arrested is not so funny, objects of humiliation by a bigoted cop and a younger disgraced Greek cop, who's forced to do what is asked oh him by his peer, making him look the fool, it's easy to see this young girl, goes off at the drag queen character. Some lines stay with me in this 7 day shot film, and we see the other struggles in Greek families, and behind the back ridicule they take, that are so stereotypical, if seeing many other films around this race. The movie really creates a warm feel around Ari's families, where we share the ups and downs. One reason I loved the film, was because of Alex Papps as Ari's brother, one actor who should of gone further, where he finally ended up, where no actor would wanna end up on: Play School. The full sex scene, near the end, with his new love, Sean, which I admit goes a little too far, beware out there to the easily offended. Fine Australian film making, steered by an uninhibited and brave performer who delivers a thunderous and real performance.

Sindre Kaspersen Australian screenwriter, producer and director Ana Kokkinos' feature film debut which she co-wrote with screenwriters Andrew Bovell and Mira Robertson, is based on a novel called "Loaded" from 1995 by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas. It premiered in Australia, was shot on location in Australia and is an Australian production which was produced by producer Jane Scott. It tells the story about a nineteen-year-old unemployed man named Ari who lives with his parents and his younger sister in the central area of Melbourne. Ari is regularly disputing with his father, and due to his knowledge of his father's view on homosexuality he keeps his sexual orientation to himself.Distinctly and engagingly directed by Australian filmmaker Ana Kokkinos, this fast paced fictional tale which is narrated by the protagonist, draws a visceral portrayal of an Australian man of Greek origins, his relationship with his father, his sister and a male prostitute and his self-damaging rebellion. While notable for it's naturalistic milieu depictions, fine cinematography by cinematographer Jaems Grant and production design by production designer Nikki Di Falco, this character-driven story about family relations, identity, the conditions of Greek immigrants in Australia, Greek culture and personal freedom where a bohemian man channels his inner turmoil and finds his own expression on the dance floor and through random sexual encounters depicts an internal and explicit study of character and contains a timely score by composer Ollie Olsen.This somewhat political, somewhat historic, romantic and overstatedly though understandably graphic drama which is set in Melbourne, Australia during the 20th century and where a dancer from a very traditional background sets out on the nightlife in Australia to consummate his innate desires and express his revolt, is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure, substantial character development, efficient continuity, scenes of dancing and the fine acting performances by Australian actors Alex Dimitriades and Paul Capsis. A dramatic, conversational and moving directorial debut from the late 1990s which is so pointedly in-your-face that it's impossible to misinterpret.

tiberius31 I just saw this movie 15 years after its release, and maybe this is a factor in some way, considering how gay men and women have been portrayed in films since then.But this aside, I don't see any internal coherence in the narrative of this film. What exactly is going on? Is it the complete confusion of an individual constantly intoxicated, with the factors at large being his sexual identity, the cultural identity of the country of his ancestry, and this in apposition to the culture of the country he lives in? On the surface it would seem so, but it seems more to to be a gratuitous portrayal of indulgence in self loathing.

mezaco In Head On, Alex Dimitriades plays a troubled young gay Greek-Australian man who has LOTS of anonymous sex and takes LOTS of drugs a LOT of the time. Be prepared for lots of explicit gay sex scenes, not to mention violence and drugs. But I really did not enjoy this film on the whole. The character interaction is very over the top. Characters fly into fits of rage without explanation, people break into fights without warning, and the dialogue is completely stilted and unnatural. I can see this film's basic message, of a young man trying to come to grips with his heritage and also find love and happiness in a world of parties, drugs and sex. It's a dreary procedure, however, that portays Greeks as hysterical violent thugs who dance, literally dance, all day in any situation, even while in the middle of a fight! There are many incomprehensible decisions, actions and the film goes absolutely nowhere. Yes, you feel for this young man who just can't find his way. But it's like this filmmaker is trying too hard to make an "oooh-shocking!", "hard-edged" indie film. It just doesn't work.