Big Ideas (film)

Plot

Jimmy Kovak attends a Sydney public (State) school, and is falling behind in his studies, partly because of his love of soccer, and his part-time work producing compost from garbage he collects, and which he sells at a local hardware store.

His next door neighbor has an antipathy to the Kovaks, at least partly because of their nationality, and runs a spiteful campaign against the boy, resulting in confiscation of his compost bins, and other harassment.

His widowed mother is handicapped by her inability to recognize the Latin alphabet (presumably she can read Cyrillic perfectly), and is too embarrassed to seek help, so is forced to accept piece-work, sewing at slave wages. Financial relief comes in the form of Sam Stevens, who recognizes the boy's ingenuity and offers him a contract to invent a chicken feeder. Sam gives Jimmy some valuable lessons in planning and time management.

Jimmy is made aware of oil pollution from a nearby outfall, and with a team of fellow students investigates its source and photographs the culprit in the act. His teacher, Mr. Searle, accepts the report as their Social Studies homework.

His mother grows closer to Sam Stevens, and enrolls in an English reading course.

Cast

Mr Searle Peter Kowitz

Jimmy Kovak Justin Rosniak

Ronnie Dixon Troy O'Hearn

Ernesto Salvatore Coco

Harry Adam Lloyd

Ben Mario Gamma

Van Peter Lu

Noel Draper Paul Chubb

Anna Kovak Gosia Dobrowolska

Beth Draper Genevieve Lemon

Mr. Galea Silvio Ofria

Liz Dixon Glenda Linscott

Maria Demetra Polycarpou

Susie Peters Nicola Lester

Mr. Hartley Bruce Venables

Sam Stevens Harold Hopkins

Mr. Tranh Xuan Mai

FACS Woman Anna Hruby

FACS Man William Usic

DVD

Flashback Entertainment has had copies for sale, rated PG (Adult Themes), but it is hard to see why. There is no Sex, Nudity, Violence, Gore, Profanity, Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking, Frightening or Intense Scenes. The "Adult Themes" are loyalty, the futility of retribution, cooperation, politeness, planning ...