The Sum of Us (film)
| The Sum of Us | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by |
Geoff Burton Kevin Dowling |
| Written by | David Stevens |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Brad Fiedel |
| Cinematography | Russell Carpenter |
| Edited by | Frans Vandenburg |
| Distributed by |
The Samuel Goldwyn Company Australian Film Commission |
Release dates |
12 July 1994 (Australia) (UK & US) |
Running time | 100 min. |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3,827,456 |
The Sum of Us is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama film version of the play The Sum of Us. Directed by Kevin Dowling and Geoff Burton, the film starred Russell Crowe and Jack Thompson. The screen adaptation mimics the play's device of breaking the fourth wall with direct to camera conversational asides by both Harry and Jeff.
Plot
Widower Harry Mitchell (Thompson) lives with his gay son Jeff (Crowe), with both men struggling in their searches for true love. Harry is completely comfortable with his son's sexuality, and is almost over-eager in his support for his son's search for a boyfriend. Harry meets an attractive but judgemental divorcee through a dating service, and this leads to some conflict between the two main characters. However, when Harry suffers a stroke and loses the power of speech, the story takes a darker turn, becoming a meditation on the enduring strength of love, both familial and romantic, in the face of adversity.
Box Office
The Sum of Us grossed $3,827,456 at the box office in Australia.[1]
Awards
Stevens' screenplay won awards from the Australian Film Institute and the Montréal World Film Festival, and the movie was named Best Film at the Cleveland International Film Festival.