Broken English

"Sometimes when you make love you make war."

May 2 1997 NC-17 1h 32m
Drama, Romance

Ivan is the fierce patriarch of a family of Croatian refugees living in Auckland during the Yugoslav wars. Nina is his daughter, ready to live on her own, despite his angry objections. Eddie is the Maori she takes as her lover. Nina works at the restaurant where Eddie cooks. For a price, she agrees to marry another restaurant employee, a Chinese man, so that he can establish permanent residency. The money gives her the independence she needs to leave her parents' house and move in with Eddie. Complications arise when Eddie realizes the depth of her father's fury and the strength of Nina's family ties.

Plot

Ivan is the fierce patriarch of a family of Croatian refugees in Auckland. Nina is his daughter, ready to live on her own, despite his angry objections. Eddie is the Maori she takes as her lover. Nina works at a restaurant where Eddie cooks. For a price, she agrees to marry a Chinese, another restaurant employee, so that he (and his Chinese wife) can establish permanent residency. The money gives her the independence she needs to leave her parents' house and move in with Eddie. Complications arise when Eddie realizes the depth of her father's fury and the strength of Nina's family ties.

Written by

Gregor Nicholas, Johanna Pigott, James Salter

Directed by

Gregor Nicholas

Cast

Aleksandra Vujcic, Julian Arahanga, Rade Serbedzija

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

New Zealand

Production Companies

New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Communicado Productions

Languages

English,

Awards

7 wins

Trailers
Broken English (1996/97) trailer
Scores
# of Votes
782
Average Rating
6.4 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA