Romulus, My Father (2007)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Richard Roxburgh

Writers:

Nick Drake (writer)
Raimond Gaita (memoir)

Release Date:

31 May 2007 (Australia)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

It tells the story of Romulus, his beautiful wife, Christina, and their struggle in the face of great adversity to bring up their son, Raimond. It is a story of impossible love that ultimately celebrates the unbreakable bond between father and son.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Romanian | Poverty | 1960s | Madness

Awards:

8 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Eric Bana	...	Romulus
Franka Potente	...	Christina
Marton Csokas	...	Hora
Kodi Smit-McPhee	...	Raimond
Russell Dykstra	...	Mitru
Jacek Koman	...	Vacek
Alethea McGrath	...	Mrs. Lillie
Terry Norris	...	Tom Lillie
Esme Melville	...	Miss Collard
Nick Peace	...	Teacher
Geoffrey Graham	...	Man in Cafe
Trevor Nesbitt	...	Man in Cafe
Zoe Boesen	...	Young Woman in Cafe
Briega Young	...	Young Woman in Cafe
Laurie Jensen	...	Taxi Driver
Eve Parker	...	Baby Susan
Tom McCathie	...	Bearded Man
Veronica Sywak	...	Lidia Vukovic
Madeleine Greaves	...	Alice
Felicity Soper	...	Alice's Mother
Maddison Gargiulo	...	Toddler Susan
Simon Maiden	...	Town Lad
Gavin Alexander	...	Policeman
Andrew Finlay	...	Policeman
Rhys McConnochie	...	Headmaster
John Arnold	...	Priest
Julie Forsyth	...	Nurse
Bodie Janka	...	Toddler Rai
Heather Mitchell	...	Television Presenter

Directed by
Richard Roxburgh

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nick Drake		writer
Raimond Gaita		memoir

Produced by
Robert Connolly	....	producer
Gary Hamilton	....	executive producer
John Maynard	....	producer
Andrew Myer	....	executive producer
Michelle Russell	....	line producer
Victor Syrmis	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Basil Hogios

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Simpson

Film Editing by
Suresh Ayyar

Casting by
Ann Robinson

Production Design by
Robert Cousins

Art Direction by
Simon McCutcheon

Costume Design by
Jodie Fried

Makeup Department
Angela Conte	....	hair designer
Angela Conte	....	makeup designer
Anna Gray	....	makeup artist
Kellie Griffin	....	makeup artist
Helen Magelaki	....	wig maker

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Connolly	....	second unit director
Hamish Roxburgh	....	assistant director

Art Department
Honi Keller	....	buyer
Honi Keller	....	set dresser
Janine Marshall	....	hero props painter
Robert Molnar	....	set dresser
Tam Morris	....	storyboard artist
Rolland Pike	....	senior set dresser
Tuesday Stone	....	graphics/art department assistant

Sound Department
Yulia Akerholt	....	dialogue editor
James Andrews	....	sound effects editor
Les Fiddess	....	foley artist
Dan Johnston	....	foley editor
Leah Katz	....	atmospheres editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Sam Petty	....	sound designer
Jonathan Rimas	....	adr mixer
Gary Wilkins	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Simon Alberry	....	I/O supervisor
Rebecca Dunn	....	digital supervisor
Brad Floyd	....	compositor: Atlab
Jamie Hediger	....	digital compositor
Michelle Hunt	....	digital compositor
Dee McClelland	....	telecine colourist

Stunts
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Tov Belling	....	first assistant camera
Chris Child	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Julie de Fina	....	casting assistant
Jane Norris	....	location and extra casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Simone Culley	....	costume stand-by

Editorial Department
Olivier Fontenay	....	film timer
Adam Khamis	....	editor: behind-the-scenes
Cheryl Potter	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
James K. Lee	....	music preparation
Jessica Wells	....	music preparation

Other crew
John Fairhead	....	safety supervisor: second unit
Tiffany Garonzi	....	production secretary
Christine Hutchins	....	production coordinator
David Lawrance	....	laboratory liaison
Alex McCrossin	....	assistant location manager
Sara Moroney	....	assistant accountant
Geoff Wilkie	....	production runner
Cameron Wood	....	location manager

Thanks
Silvia Colloca	....	special thanks
Andrew Mackie	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Arenafilm

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Footprint Films (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Grand Brilliance (2008) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• CK Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Capelight Pictures (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Delta Pictures (2007) (Italy) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (all media)
• Pinema (2009) (Turkey) (all media) (distributor)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cameraquip Australia  camera equipment provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Linear Recording  score recorded at
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studio
• Melbourne Film Office  filmed with the assistance of

Also Known As:

Babam Romulus (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Dear My Father (Japan: English title) (DVD title) [en]
Meno male che c'è papà (Italy) [it]
Rómulo, mi padre (Argentina) (cable TV title) [es]
Romulus (Finland) (DVD title) [fi]
Romulus, Meu Pai (Brazil) [pt]
Unter der Sonne Australiens (Germany) [de]

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

104 min | Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Singapore:M18 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Arenafilm

Trivia:

According to the special features, everything in the film was taken from the real Raimond's life.

Goofs:

Continuity: The black eye and cut on Christina's face changes in different shots.

Quotes:

Mitru: I wish it could be the way it used to be. When we were friends.

Soundtrack:

My Prayer

Very special movie - an Australian classic for sure

This is a an extremely compelling and moving film. I just cannot get the story and characters out of my head.

The casting was absolutely perfect, each and every actor was incredibly well chosen and there is no hint of Hollywoodness about any of them. Kodi Smit-McPhee is unbelievable in the role of Raymond Gaita, I almost never wish to see him in any other role and want to remember him as Raymond forever.

It is quite difficult to get hold of this book which I'm keen to do to read the aspects of the story which the film didn't cover. I had read the book reviews so was aware of the family's past history but my husband found some parts a little confusing - he felt it would have been beneficial to focus some time on the Gaita's initial arrival in Australia and how this affected each character. He found it a great movie but a little 'arty'. Lots of the story is non-verbal and you can read the story in the faces of the characters and the feeling of the landscape. I loved this movie and would highly recommend it to everybody!