Church's Location In Death In Brunswick

In the 1990 black comedy/romance film *Death in Brunswick*, the church is located in Melbourne, Australia. The film follows a humble chef, Carl, who gets a job at a nightclub owned by Yanni Voulgaris. Carl begins a relationship with a Greek-Australian barmaid, Sophie, which brings him into conflict with her strict father and employers. The film culminates in a wedding scene reminiscent of the Last Supper.

The film's setting and filming location

The 1990 Australian black comedy/romance film *Death in Brunswick* was both set and filmed on location in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. The film is based on the 1987 comic novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade.

The film centres on Carl (Sam Neill), a humble chef who gets a job at a sleazy nightclub owned by Yanni Voulgaris (Nicholas Papademetriou). He begins a relationship with the Greek-Australian barmaid, Sophie (Zoe Carides), which brings him into conflict with her strict father and her employers.

The film features several notable locations in Brunswick, including a number of its late Victorian workers' cottages and the magnificent shopping strip on Sydney Road. There is also a scene set in the Melbourne General Cemetery.

One of the film's most famous scenes involves Carl's friend and fellow grave digger, Dave (John Clarke), who proposes that they bury a body in the open grave of someone else, whose husband will be buried above her the following day. When he finds that the rate of decomposition is not what he expects, he begins to stomp and crush her body to make some room.

The film also features a memorable scene in which Carl goes to Sophie's parents' home to ask for permission to marry her, only to be punched and knocked out by her father.

Death in Brunswick offers a fascinating snapshot of Brunswick as it was in the 1990s, before the rapid development that has since transformed the suburb, including the construction of numerous apartment blocks along its major arterial roads.

The plot

Plot

Death in Brunswick is an Australian black comedy-romance film, based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade. The film is set and filmed in Brunswick, a Melbourne suburb, and revolves around the life of Carl Fitzgerald (Sam Neill), a humble chef who finds himself in a series of unfortunate events.

Carl, the main character, is a 40-something underemployed chef who lands a job at a sleazy nightclub owned by Yanni Voulgaris. He falls in love with Sophie Papafagos (Zoe Carides), a Greek-Australian barmaid at the club, despite their age difference. Their relationship brings Carl into conflict with Sophie's strict father and employers.

Carl also has a drug-dealing Turkish-Australian co-worker, Mustafa (Nick Lathouris), who is beaten up by the Greek-Australian owners. Mistakenly believing that Carl informed on him, Mustafa attacks Carl, who accidentally stabs and kills him. Carl, with the help of his friend and grave digger, Dave, buries Mustafa's body in an open grave, leading to one of the film's most famous scenes.

Mustafa's wife and son later confront Carl, asking about Mustafa's whereabouts. Wracked with guilt, Carl gives Mustafa's pay to his wife, against Dave's advice. Mustafa's son also sees Carl with Sophie, and Mustafa's Turkish friends, believing the Greek owners to be responsible, take their revenge, inadvertently killing the original assailant.

Carl eventually leaves his job and finds comfort in a dream where Mustafa offers him a friendly handshake in a church. After his mother suffers a stroke, Carl marries Sophie, despite her father's protests, and the final scene from their wedding is reminiscent of the Last Supper.

The cast

The 1990 black comedy/romance film 'Death in Brunswick' was based on the 1987 comic novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade. The film stars:

• Sam Neill as Carl Fitzgerald, a humble chef who gets a job at a sleazy nightclub owned by Yanni Voulgaris. Carl begins a relationship with a Greek-Australian barmaid, Sophie, which brings him into trouble with her strict father and his employers.
• Zoe Carides as Sophie Papafagos, the Greek-Australian barmaid who falls in love with Carl.
• John Clarke as Dave, Carl's grave digger friend who helps him bury Mustafa.
• Nicholas Papademetriou as Yanni Voulgaris, the owner of the nightclub where Carl works.
• Nick Lathouris as Mustafa, Carl's drug-dealing Turkish-Australian co-worker whom Carl accidentally kills.
• Yvonne Lawley as Mrs. Fitzgerald, Carl's mother.
• Deborah Kennedy as June.
• Doris Younane as Carmel.

The film's awards and critical reception

The 1990 Australian black comedy-romance film "Death in Brunswick" received positive reviews from critics. David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz of "The Movie Show" gave the film 4.5 out of 5 stars, with Stratton praising the film's boldness and risk-taking. Rob Lowing, a film critic for the "Sydney Morning Herald," described the film as "a gem of a black comedy and certainly the best that Australia has produced in years."

The film's success extended to the box office, grossing $2,725,169 in Australia, which is equivalent to $5,490,566 in 2021 dollars. It was the second-highest-grossing Australian film of the year, only behind "Green Card."

In addition to critical acclaim, "Death in Brunswick" also received recognition at the APRA Music Awards of 1991, winning Film Score of the Year.

The film's success can be attributed to its engaging storyline, diverse setting, and strong performances by its cast, including Sam Neill, Zoe Carides, and John Clarke. It is based on the 1987 comic novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade.

The novel it was based on

The 1990 black comedy/romance film "Death in Brunswick" is based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Boyd Oxlade. The novel is a classic of 1980s Australian literature, set in the ethnically diverse Melbourne suburb of Brunswick.

The story centres around two down-on-their-luck characters, Carl and Dave. Carl is a middle-aged cook at a seedy rock pub, facing various troubles in his life, including a recent separation from his wife, a strained relationship with his mother, and a secret desire for his mother's death so he can inherit her money. Dave is a gravedigger at Coburg Cemetery. When Carl accidentally kills a co-worker, Mustafa, he enlists Dave's help to dispose of the body. The novel then unfolds as Dave helps Carl hide the body and deal with the aftermath of the murder.

The novel is known for its dark humour, memorable characters, and vivid depictions of 1980s Melbourne. It explores themes of friendship, love, life-or-death matters, and social satire, including racism, sex, drugs, and left-wing politics. The novel also captures the gentrification of the Brunswick area, presenting a picture of an '80s rock Melbourne that feels distant and nostalgic.

While the film adaptation of "Death in Brunswick" is well-known, the novel has its own unique appeal, offering a deeper exploration of the characters and themes. The book provides a more ambiguous and complex examination of friendship and includes a darker ending than its cinematic counterpart.

Frequently asked questions