Love And Other Catastrophes Review

Multi-plotted, character-driven film about five Australian university students whose paths cross during the course of one day.

by Giala Murray |
Published on
Release Date:

25 Apr 1997

Running Time:

76 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Love And Other Catastrophes

Croghan's feature film directing debut is a funny, multi-plotted, character-driven film about five Australian university students whose paths cross during the course of one day. The story is simple: Mia (O'Connor), likeable in spite of her self-obsession, and Alice (Garner), a perfectionist who has trouble living up to her own standards, have just moved into a new apartment and are not only looking for a third person to share but are planning a house-warming party for the evening.

On the catastrophe front, Mia's girlfriend Danni (Radha Mitchell) wants to move in, but Mia is scared of commitment, which causes a ruck. Mia is also battling with the university administration; Alice is dodging a tutor because her thesis (on Doris Day As A Feminist Icon) is four years late, and she is on the look out for the perfect man. Elsewhere, Michael (Matt Day, last seen in Muriel's Wedding) is a medical student sharing with blokes who drink all day and throw up in the sink while he's cleaning his teeth. And Ari (Dyktynski) is boosting his student grant with a spot of prostitution.

Twenty-three-year-old Croghan is certainly catering for her peers with this raw and fluid take on student life. No one will be surprised by the outcome, but anyone who has been a student, shared a house or fancied someone from afar will revel in the emotional turmoil.

Croghan accurately illustrates the frustrations of a charismatic bunch of characters who are frank, funny and full of life.
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