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Based on the novel Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas, Ana Kokkinos’s compelling debut feature Head On is a volatile, confronting and at times bleak look at race, sexuality and class in contemporary Australian society. The film’s lead protagonist Ari (Alex Dimitriades) is an angry, confused, nihilistic, unemployed 19-year-old Greek Australian. The film traces a particularly explosive 24 hours in his life, fuelled by drugs, booze and anonymous sex as he grapples with his sexuality and clashes with his traditional Greek family, who he views with equal amounts of respect and contempt. Performances are excellent throughout, in particular Paul Capsis as Ari’s defiant crossdressing friend Johnny/Toula.
Cast includes Elena Mandalis, Eugenia Fragos, Julian Garner, Dora Kaskanis, Alex Papps, Damien Fotiou. Awards: Best Actor (Alex Dimitriades) and Best Supporting Actor (Paul Capsis) for the 1999 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards.
Best Feature Film Adaptation (Andrew Bovell, Ana Kokkinos, Mira Robertson) 1998 Awgie Awards.
Best Director (Ana Kokkinos) 1999 San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.
Best Achievement in Editing (Jill Bilcock) 1998 AFI Awards.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
309798
Language
English
Audience classification
R (18+)
Subject categories
Aboriginal Australia → Aboriginal Australians - Youth
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Awards - Australia
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Australia - Social life and customs
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Greeks - Australia
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Suburban life
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Australia - Emigration and immigration
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Australia - Social conditions
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Australia - Social conditions - 20th Century
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Greeks - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Immigrants - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Suburban life
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Teenagers
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Coming out (Sexual orientation)
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Suburban life
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Teenagers
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Teenagers - Family relationships
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Teenagers - Sexual behavior
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Transvestites
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Youth - Sexual behavior
Feature films → Feature films - Australia
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Drugs
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Suburban life
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Teenagers
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Youth - Drug use - Australia
Literature → Australian literature - Film and video adaptations
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)