''A Matter of Convenience'' is a 1987 Australian

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

about a couple living in Melbourne. Velma (

Deborra-Lee Furness Deborra-Lee Furness (born 30 November 1955) is an Australian actress and producer. She is married to actor Hugh Jackman. Early life Furness was born in Annandale, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, and raised in Melbourne, Victoria. At ...

) works in a butchers and wants a baby, but has no money. Her work shy partner Joe ( John Clarke) is resistant to any kind of job. After meeting Alphonse Torontoa, a Frenchman who arranges weddings for immigrants looking to stay in Australia, Velma becomes a witness to these marriages of convenience. After Joe's rejection of a job in the local chicken factory, she forces him to marry an immigrant bride for money. Joe marries a Lebanese woman but is forced to live with her because the officials become suspicious of Alphonse's arranged marriages. This separates Joe from Velma, causing strain to their relationship. Joe falls in love with the Lebanese woman, and things spiral out of control.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p106 Ben Lewin won an

AACTA Award for Best Direction in Television The Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction in Television is awarded annually by the Australian Film Institute as part of the awards in television for excellence in direction. Prior to 1990, two awards existed and were called ''Best ...

Plot

Valm wants a baby with her partner Joe but he has trouble sustaining himself financially. She agrees to help Alphonse and to marry an immigrant.

Production

It was one of a series of TV movies that were made as a part of a co production deal between Revcom and ABC. Three were to be made in Australia, three in Europe with Australians; the common theme was to be "sentiment". (The other Australian movies were '' The Lizard King'' and '' Perhaps Love''.)

References

External links

*
''A Matter of Convenience''
at AustLit Australian television films 1987 television films 1987 films 1980s English-language films {{Australia-tv-film-stub