Director
Rob Sitch
Leading Actors/Actresses
Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Anthony Simcoe, Sophie Lee, Wayne Hope
Genre
Comedy
Language
English
Awards
AACTA Award winner for Best Original Screenplay; Australian Movie Convention for Australian Movie of the Year
Date of Release
10 April 1997
Producer
Debra Choate
Setting and Context
Modern-day Australia in the suburb of Coolaroo in Melbourne.
Narrator and Point of View
It is narrated by the youngest son Dale Kerrigan.
Tone and Mood
Satirical, Humorous, Suspenseful, Content
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist: Darryl Kerrigan; Antagonist: Local authority, bureaucracy
Major Conflict
The Kerrigan family values their home which is about to be acquired by the local authorities for expansion of the airport. Headed by Darryl, the family finds means to keep their home despite the legal battle that is in the works.
Climax
The climax reaches when Darryl comments on his household being more than bricks and mortar but a home.
Foreshadowing
Dale Kerrigan commenting on the current value of their house foreshadows the events during negotiations with the authority.
Understatement
Dale’s narration understates the situations taking place through funny and subtle comments.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
The director incorporates medium shots to emphasize the significance of family particularly in shots during meals.
Allusions
The film alludes to the common saying about a man’s home being his castle. It is a conviction among the working class in Australia (battler) regarding their household and commitment.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The protagonist parallels the struggles of land rights in Australia between theirs and that of the Aboriginals.
