True Love and Chaos
True Love and Chaos is a 1997 Australian film directed by Stavros Efthymiou. It is a road movie.
Efthymiou managed to get the film funded on the basis of the success of Love and Other Catastrophes.
True Love and Chaos is a warm and humorous story of human fallibilities, a young woman's rite of passage, familial ties, and the on-going search for simple and pure relationships.
Plot
Mimi, a twenty-something backing singer with a country band and waitress, is returning home to make peace with her mother who lives in Perth, and hopefully get her to tell her the name of her father. Mimi wants her boyfriend Hanif, to accompany her, but he procrastinates. Though he clearly cares for her, he also fears commitment.Hanif becomes involved in a drug theft masterminded by his lovesick junkie friend, Dean, who has been attracted to his violent brother’s girlfriend, Ariel. Together Hanif and Dean steal a cache of drugs from Dean’s brother, Jerry. Hanif and Dean escape Melbourne by joining Mimi on her journey westwards. Hanif concocts half-truths and keeps Mimi oblivious to the stolen drugs. Mimi shows obvious signs of being pregnant, but Hanif is slow to understand. Jerry learns Hanif and Dean's destination and sets out in hot pursuit, with hatred in his heart and a gun in his pocket, purchased from a marina security guard, Crazy Craig.
On the road Mimi meets Morris, a charming cynic and alcoholic bearded singer in the Leonard Cohen/Nick Cave style who has ended up in a cover band. Morris joins them, despite Hanif's resentments. Mimi tells Morris that she has never known her father and had left home because her mother refused to disclose anything about him. Mimi also tells Morris that she believes, "If you're good, good things will happen to you." Morris encourages Mimi to take her singing seriously. Hanif becomes jealous of their growing friendship. Hanif is also disturbed to discover that Dean has been unable to shake his drug habit.
In a small town Mimi wins a karaoke singing competition. Morris makes a pass at Mimi. This upsets and confuses her. As the foursome drive towards Perth, Jerry suddenly appears and attempts to run them off the road. Mimi is furious and demands to know the truth. Dean confesses to stealing Jerry's drugs. Mimi has had it with Hanif. She tells him that it's over between them. Hanif finally realises that Mimi is pregnant.
One they reach Perth, Mimi tells her mother, Hannah, that she no longer cares about knowing her father's identity and that she plans to keep her child. Morris unexpectedly arrives at Hannah's house. Mimi learns that Morris is her father. Upset, Mimi runs off. Meanwhile, to Jerry’s considerable irritation, he has discovered Ariel has flown across country to see him.
Hanif and Dean find Mimi outside their hotel. Hanif says he loves her. Mimi tells him that Morris is her father. Jerry appears and traps the threesome in a park. Blood is spilt in the ensuing chaos, and those remaining must learn to live with the consequences of their actions.
Cast
- Miranda Otto as Mimi
- Naveen Andrews as Hanif
- Noah Taylor as Dean
- Ben Mendelsohn as Jerry
- Hugo Weaving as Morris
- Kimberley Davies as Ariel
- Geneviève Picot as Hannah
- Saskia Post as Sam
- Hung Le as Crazy Craig
- Marieke Hardy as Out of it Woman
- Des Mullan as Country & Western Lead Singer
- Antoinette Halloran as Country & Western Lead Singer
- Pia Manning as Country & Western Backing Singer
- Matthew Dyktynski as Rusty
- David Bowers as Neil
- Stefan Berg as Morris' band member
- Martin Lubran as Morris' band member
- Peta Doodson as Bartender
- Constance Lansberg as Female Soap Star
- Lois Collinder as Karaoke Compere
- Libby Stone as Karaoke Singer
- Vivienne Benton as Karaoke Singer
- Penny Schlam as Truckstop Proprietor
- Stavros Kazantzidis as Harry
- Nina Landis as Affirmation Voice
Production
A Westside Films production. Development, production and marketing assistance by Film Victoria. Script developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission. Financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation Limited. Produced with the assistance of Mushroom Music & Mushroom Records. Australian distributor was NewVision; Beyond was the international sales agent.Production is listed as being from
15 April 1996 to 15 May 1996 in the Cinema Papers' August 1996 production survey. The press kit lists a seven week shoot; the limited budget only allowed for two weeks location shooting.
Soundtrack
Original music composed by Martin Lubran and David Bowers.Includes songs by Tom Jones (singer), Blondie (band), Leonard Cohen, Moloko, Yothu Yindi, Powderfinger, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Ash (band), Beasts of Bourbon, Pollyanna (band), Dead Star, The Stone Cold Boners, Hugo Weaving, Matthew Dyktynski, Miranda Otto, No Fixed Address, Banana Oil, Headless Chickens, Catherine Wearne and Andrew Travis, Chris Wilson, Shocking Blue and Heather Nova.