Head On
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAna Kokkinos
Screenplay by
  • Andrew Bovell
  • Ana Kokkinos
  • Mira Robertson
Based onLoaded by
Christos Tsiolkas
Produced byJane Scott
Starring
Edited byJill Bilcock
Distributed byStrand Releasing
Umbrella Entertainment
Release date
  • 13 August 1998 (1998-08-13) (Australia)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguagesEnglish, Greek

Head On is a 1998 Australian LGBT-related drama film directed by Ana Kokkinos, who wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bovell and Mira Robertson. The film is based on the 1995 novel Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas. The film stars Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Julian Garner and Tony Nikolakopoulos. The film tells the story of Ari, a dissolute 19-year-old gay Greek-Australian drug addict living in St Kilda, Victoria. The film gained notoriety upon its release for its sexual explicitness, including a graphic masturbation scene performed by Dimitriades and numerous sex scenes. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with positive reviewers praising its stark realism, the lead performance by Dimitriades and the uncompromising subject matter.[1]

Plot

Over a 24-hour period, 19-year-old Ari confronts his sexuality and his Greek background. Ari is obsessed with sex and has sexual encounters with multiple people, most of them gay, and attempts to fulfill the sister of one of his best friends. At the same time, he is facing problems with his traditional Greek parents, who have no clue about his sexual and drug-related activities.

Cast

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 63% based on reviews from 24 critics.[1]

Head On divided the Greek community in Australia, Kokkinos said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Kokkinos said "what it did is that it opened up a dialogue between younger Greeks and their parents. What the film has done is that it has broken down barriers."[2]

Accolades

Australian Film Institute

L.A. Outfest

  • Grand Jury Award: Outstanding Foreign Narrative Feature (Ana Kokkinos, won)

San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

  • Best First Feature (Ana Kokkinos, won)

References

  1. 1 2 "Head On (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. 3 October 2000. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Kevin (2 September 1999). "MOVIES : Collision with Life : Director looks at what it means to be Greek and Australian, gay and conflicted". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 6 October 2015.


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