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Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Julian Garner, Tony Nikolakopoulos, Elena Mandalis ... see more see more... , Eugenia Fragos , Damien Fotiou , Andrea Mandalis , Maria Mercedes , Dora Kaskanis , Alex Papps , Vassili Zappa

In this gritty Australian drama, the nihilistic son of Greek immigrants indulges in 24 hours of hedonism in ethnically conflicted inner-city Melbourne. Ari (Alex Dimitriades), a 19-year-old layabout, ... read more read more...spends his time picking up strange men for furtive sex; dealing, and doing, speed with his friends; fighting with his conservative father and beleaguered mother; and trying to look after his younger sister, Alex (Andrea Mandalis), who's involved in a clandestine relationship with a young Lebanese guy. Although Ari rails against the racism of Australian society, he's also a bit of a bigot himself. And despite his enthusiastic participation in Greek activities -- weddings, fortune tellers, music, and dancing -- he's also repulsed by his culture's intolerance. Best friend Johnny (Paul Capsis), who defiantly dresses up as his own dead mother, is an outcast, but the straight-seeming Ari refuses to drop him. During the course of a single day, Ari fools around with his friend Betty (Elena Mandalis) and several men of various ages and nationalities. He also pines away for Sean (Julian Garner), a dreamy college friend of his brother's, who may offer a loving alternative to self-destructive excess. When Ari and Johnny are arrested and brutalized by a pair of race-baiting cops, however, the chance for redemption seems more remote than ever. Adapted from the Christos Tsiolkas novel Loaded, Head On marked the feature debut of writer/director Ana Kokkinos, herself an Australian of Greek extraction. The film was shown in the Directors Fortnight section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Flixster Users

67% liked it

2,556 ratings

Critics

61% liked it

23 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Ana Kokkinos

Release Date: August 13, 1999

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DVD Release Date: October 3, 2000

Stats: 163 reviews

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Alex Dimitriades as Ari in Head On (1998) Julian and Alex in Head On Head On
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Flixster Reviews (163)

  • 76Majikat
    March 28, 2009
    76Majikat
    Straight from the off this film begins with a natural, well acted plot, with a good role played by Alex Dimitriades. The realisticness of the film, does make it feel a little slow moving, but remains an enjoyable watch throughout.

    In his duel cultural background, the charact... read moreer struggles to please his family and struggles to hide his sexuality of which he, himself finds is also finding hard to accept. Drug fuelled binges provides him with escapism, whilst denying himself the one thing that could make him happy.
  • danieljparsons
    August 2, 2008
    danieljparsons
    One of the most depressing but gripping 'struggle in the closet' films I have ever seen, with a fantastic, charismatic and emotive performance from anti-hero Alex Dimitriades (who, judging from his IMDB page, needs to get a better agent). It's a niche subject perhaps, which is th... read moreen squeezed into another minority - a traditional Greek family - but it's expertly written and played and actually has broad appeal. Ari's downward spiral (he starts close to the gutter and disappears into it by the time of the slightly rushed, bleaker than bleak ending) is gripping and entirely believable, the Aussie streets have a grimy/murky, hellish feel and some of the lines cross the boundaries of sexy/disturbing/distressing ("don't spill it"). Kinetic direction and a brilliant (and now nostalgic) soundtrack both ground and enhance a very good film. Pity about the off-putting poster art.
  • carusos2cents
    July 10, 2008
    carusos2cents
    WHEW! Here's a film that's as hot as it is gritty as it is darkly funny. A cautionary tale to any gay man who falls for the aloof, troubled kind of guy and tries to change him. The moral of the story is: People don't change, they are who and what they are, period. But what a ride... read more it is along the way. Fantastic performances by Alex Dimitriades and Paul Capsis, one tends to love their characters in spite of the fact that they hate themselves. Visually superb and dripping of raw sexuality, not for those who recoil in disgust from gay sex and drugs. My advice? get over yourself and experience gay angst in all it's realistic depravity.
  • gms1yygy
    June 16, 2007
    gms1yygy
    X rated. Bleak look at some very sad lives - drugs and alcohol, anger, anonymous sex, over-dominant father, totally submissive mother. I watched it twice to not just dismiss it. I suppose some lives are like that. Only one character with some hope -maybe (the rejected boyfriend S... read moreean). It is very well done; but don't expect fun and happiness. One important message: Paul Capsis (the drag queen) says the worst sin is silence. Mark Twain said that too. To see evil and say nothing.

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Critic Reviews

Andrea Gronvall
April 1, 2010
Andrea Gronvall, Chicago Reader

Director Ana Kokkinos has an eye for local color but spends little time developing the supporting characters. Full Review

Desson Thomson
February 24, 2005
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

In a way, the film is a kissing cousin to the 1960s kitchen sink dramas of the British cinema and the working-class angst of German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 7, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Anyone of any generation who has ever felt at odds with his or her environment can identify with the characters in Head On. Full Review

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Strains so desperately for a tragic kitchen-sink realism that in several crucial scenes the movie loses its grip and escalates into strident melodrama. Full Review

Jessica Winter
January 1, 2000
Jessica Winter, Village Voice

The film's close is grim and ambivalent, a choice that would be commendable if the movie had not so stubbornly held the same dour tone for two hours already, and if Ari weren't as boring as he is bored. Full Review

Gemma Files
January 1, 2000
Gemma Files, Film.com

One of this year's most sensual tragic spectacles -- a tour-de-force on a thousand different levels, with no easy happy endings in sight.

Daniel Mangin
January 1, 2000
Daniel Mangin, Salon.com

Its missteps and excesses aside, Head On is a promising feature film debut for Kokkinos. Full Review

January 1, 2000
E! Online

Although Head On has a certain rude power, it's definitely not a date flick. Full Review

David Noh
January 1, 2000
David Noh, Film Journal International

Ari comes off as little more than a self-centered, bigoted layabout, contemptuous of anyone who works for a living and a trial to his family. Full Review

Bruce Kirkland
January 1, 2000
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies

It seems to parade its anger instead of explaining it or putting it in a dramatic context. It's a rant, not a drama.

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