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Love's brother - Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Garcia, Amelia Warner, Jan Sardi

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

In despair of ever finding love, the insecure Angelo (Giovanni Ribisi) uses a photo of his handsome brother Gino (Adam Garcia) to convince a beautiful Italian girl across the sea to marry him. Gino's delighted for Angelo, but when he lays eyes on his brother's betrothed, it's love at first sight.

Touching and funny, sentimental and heart-warming, this is a magical, sweetly nostalgic journey about roots, family, sacrifice and the power of true love.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film Australia drama romance immigrant Italy coffee marriage brothers

Persons of interest

Giovanni Ribisi .... Angelo Donnini
Adam Garcia .... Gino Donnini
Amelia Warner .... Rosetta
Silvia De Santis .... Connie
Eleanor Bron .... Signora Carmelina
John Bluthal .... Pepe
Joe Petruzzi .... Zio Luigi
Dina Panozzo .... Zia Norman
Barry Otto .... Father Alfredo
Jan Sardi .... Screenwriter
Jan Sardi .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Love's brother official movie site
Love's brother movie trailers:

QuickTime

Awards and film festivals:

Australian Film Institute (AFI) 2004: Nominated: Best direction (Jan Sardi), best original screenplay (Jan Sardi), best film, best cinematography (Andrew Lesnie), best production design (Paul Heath), best costume design (Anna Borghesi)
Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2004: Nominated: Best romantic comedy
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards 2004: Nominated: Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie)
Houston International Film Festival (Worldfest) 2004: Best feature film
if Awards 2004: Won: Best Production Design (Paul Heath)

cf. La spagnola, Looking for Alibrandi
Studios and distributors:

Arclight Films * Palace Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Love's brother is a story about migrants/refugees from Mediterranean Europe finding a life for themselves in pre-multicultural Australia. You know, when Australia was still British and we still had the Keep Australia White policy (not that we're racist or anything).

As first generation migrants, Angelo and Gino retain their Italian accents but they are also vulnerable to the pressures of the dominant culture (ie Anglo). They are caught between the lives of their parents and the lives that will become their children's. Hence, Gino finds girlfriends who are second generation Italian or outright Anglo. The two boys crashing a local Anglo dance is a hoot.

With good Aussie acumen, happily ever after doesn't turn out in the way you expect it to when the film begins, although there are clues to the final scenes slipped in along the way. It's all good.