''Mull'' is a 1988 Australian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by Don McLennan. The film is based on the popular 1986 book, ''Mullaway'' by Bronwen 'Bron' Nichols.

Plot

A sixteen-year-old teenage girl ( Nadine Garner) is forced to care for her family, when her mother ( Sue Jones) finds out she is dying of

Hodgkin’s disease Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma, in which cancer originates from a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes, where multinucleated Reed–Sternberg cells (RS cells) are present in the patient's lymph nodes. The condition w ...

. The family consists of her father ( Bill Hunter) a reformed alcoholic and recently born-again Christian, her

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

-dabbling closet gay older brother (Craig Morrison), and two trying younger siblings (Bradley Kilpatrick and Kymara Stowers) all packed into a rented flat in the

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

bayside suburb of St Kilda. She also has to deal with her pregnant Greek best friend (

Mary Coustas Mary Coustas (born 16 September 1964) is an Australian actress, comedian and television personality and writer. Originally from Melbourne, Coustas often performs as the character "Effie", a stereotypical second-generation Greek Australian prone ...

), her yearnings for her brother’s lover (

Juno Roxas Juno Roxas (born 4 May 1967) is an Australian musician and actor. Life and career Roxas was one of the founding members of glam metal band, Roxus (1987–1993). The group released an album in 1991, titled '' Nightstreet'' which peaked at numbe ...

) and her gay former schoolteacher plus his lover.

Cast

Production

The film's budget was $3 million but McLennan says only $1.7 million went on the film, the rest went into fees.

Awards

''Mull'' received six nominations at the 1988 Australian Film Institute Awards: '

Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

', 'Best Director' (McLennan), '

Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress aw ...

' (Garner), ' Best Supporting Actress' (for both Jones and Coustas) and 'Best Costume Design' (Jeanie Cameron). Nadine Garner winning the 'Best Actress' award. The film was also screened at the 33rd Regus London Film Festival in 1989.

References

External links

*
''Mullaway''
at Oz Movies * 1989 films 1989 drama films Australian LGBT-related films Australian drama films 1980s English-language films Films directed by Don McLennan 1980s Australian films LGBT-related drama films {{1980s-Australia-film-stub