The Heartbreak Kid (1993 film)

Plot

Christina Papadopoulos (Claudia Karvan) is a sweet and well-meaning 22-year-old school teacher, engaged to ambitious lawyer Dimitri (Steve Bastoni). Christina's entire future seems planned out for her—albeit planned by her fiancé, her father and her priest.

Lively 17-year-old Nick Polides (Alex Dimitriades) is a student in Christina's class. Nick and Christina find themselves attracted to each other as both begin to rebel against the constricting Greek-Australian cultural restraints put upon them.

When Christina becomes the Coach of the school's soccer team, she and Nick begin to spend more time together outside of school hours. Soon their mutual attraction ignites into an illicit, passionate affair.

Cast

Soundtrack

1. "The Heartbreak Kid" (John Clifford White) — John Clifford White
2. "Teacher I Need You" (Elton John and Bernie Taupin) — Stephen Cummings
3. "Love Is All Around" (Reg Presley) — The Persuasions
4. "I Can Just (Lose Myself in You)" (Brian Cadd and David Hirschfelder) — Lisa Edwards
5. "Vision" (Ashley Rothchild, James MacKinnon, Sean Fonti) — Caligula
6. "One" (Paul Hewson, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., David Evans) — U2
7. "True Love" (Art Neville, Daryl Johnson, Hawk Wolinski) — The Neville Brothers
8. "Great Palaces of Immortal Splendour" (Single Gun Theory) — Single Gun Theory
9. "Words Written Backwards" (Single Gun Theory) — Single Gun Theory
10. "Mozart Requiem, K626 – Introitus" (Mozart) — Mezzo Soprano, Cecilia Bartoli, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
11. "Mozart Requiem, K626 – Lacrimosa" (Mozart) — Mezzo Soprano, Cecilia Bartoli, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
12. "Looking for Nick" (John Clifford White)
13. "Father and Son" (John Clifford White)
14. "Anthem" (John Clifford White)

Production

Mike Jenkins developed the script with Richard Barrett, who wrote the original play, over two years, doing around seven drafts. Jenkins and the cast then rehearsed for three weeks.

Box office

The Heartbreak Kid took in A$2,658,819 at the box office, making it the 74th most successful Australian film (1966–2008).

Awards and nominations

The Heartbreak Kid received three Australian Film Institute Award nominations in 1993, in the categories of Best Supporting Actor (Nico Lathouris), Best Director (Michael Jenkins) and Best Film (Ben Gannon). The film was nominated for and won Best Screenplay at the Montreal World Film Festival in 1993.