Broken English (1996)
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82% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
66% want to see it
(39 ratings)
Along with Once Were Warriors, Broken English effectively captures contemporary New Zealand as a society in transition. Broken English dramatizes how the effect of immigration to the cities of New Zealand by both its native peoples, the Maoris, and Europeans seeking refuge from political persecution… More Along with Once Were Warriors, Broken English effectively captures contemporary New Zealand as a society in transition. Broken English dramatizes how the effect of immigration to the cities of New Zealand by both its native peoples, the Maoris, and Europeans seeking refuge from political persecution has not produced a harmonious melting pot. Ivan (Rade Serbedzija) is an embittered Croatian who fled to his wife's native Aukland when war broke out in Bosnia. Brooding over TV news reports on what is happening to his homeland (and displaying more than a little guilt over his flight from there), Ivan lashes out at anyone outside of his insulated Croatian community, including his gentle Maori neighbors. His drug-running business allows him a comfortable lifestyle, but he's still irritated that his young adult daughters won't mind him. The eldest, Nina (Aleksandra Vujcic), is a waitress who takes up with a colleague, a Maori cook named Eddie (Julian "Sonny" Arahanga, who also appeared in Once Were Warriors), in part because he's attractive but also to tweak her father. Complicating matters is an arranged marriage Nina has agreed to with a Chinese immigrant colleague at the restaurant; he's willing to pay her 16,000 dollars just to make his residency legal, so he can be with his girlfriend, Clara. Originally rated NC-17 for an energetic but hardly explicit sex scene between Nina and Eddie, the film was later edited to earn an "R" rating. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi
- Directed By
- Gregor Nicholas
- Written By
- Gregor Nicholas, Johnana Pigott, Jim Salter
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
R,
Critic Reviews
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The situation is not original, but the setting makes it seem so, and the director and co-writer, Gregor Nicholas, is alert to nuances of the characters.
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Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Zoe Cassavetes... lets Nora's complicated emotional story play out, and she finds in Posey a strong collaborator in catching all of Nora's tics and charms.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
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Cast
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Aleksandra Vujcic
as Nina
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Rade Serbedzija
as Ivan
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Julian "Sonny" Arahanga
as Eddie
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Temuera Morrison
as Manu
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Greg Johnson
as Doug
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Yang Li-ching
as Wu
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Stephen Hall
as Ivan's Mate
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Marton Csokas
as Darko
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Madeline McNamara
as Mira
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Li Yang
as Wu
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Zhao Jing Chen
as Clara
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Michael Langley
as Jura
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Stephen Ure
as Ivan's Mate
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Chris Anderton
as Palermo Band
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Gilbert Goldie
as Cab Driver
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Barbara Cartwright
as Jasmin
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Amanda Rees
as Nurse
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Nancy Anthony
as Essie's Party Guest
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Vinko Bakich
as Ivan's Mate
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Mary Ball
as Essie's Party Guest
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Rudi Bartus
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Milka Bilcic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Zeljko Bilcic
as Ivan's Mate
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Dominic Blaazer
as Palermo Band
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Berta Boric
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Sinisa Copic
as Croatian Relatives On Home Video
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Tetapu Daniel
as Essie's Party Guest
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Nora Eiao
as Essie's Party Guest
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Terangi Eiao
as Essie's Party Guest
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Dywane George
as Essie's Party Guest
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George More O'Ferrall
as Essie's Party Guest
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Crystal Harris
as Essie's Family
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Shane Harris
as Essie's Family
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Anna Jankovaic
as Croatian Relatives On Home Video
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Zaho Jing
as Clara
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Mirija Jukic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Naomi Kino
as Essie's Family
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Tihana Kovacevic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Emma Lovell
as Nina And Eddie's Daughter
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Jerry Lovrin
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Apera Mangi
as Essie's Party Guest
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Elizabeth Marvic
as Vanya
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Tiromoana Mil
as Essie's Party Guest
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Junior Moses
as Essie's Party Guest
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Ajrin Nenadic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Iavn Nobilo
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Mary Nola
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Tony Pecotic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Rocky Pepe
as Essie's Family
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Bruno Relic
as Croatian Relatives On Home Video
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Mona Ross
as Auntie Marja
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Chris Ruka
as Reverend Essie
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Romey Ruka
as Essie's Party Guest
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Pero Skoric
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Makedon Stojkov
as Croatian Relatives On Home Video
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Fred Sy
as Chow
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Taokotaianga Cultural Group
as Essie's Party Guest
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The Dalmatian Club Of Auckland
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Marija Tomic
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Nui Tuakana
as Essie's Wife
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Tai Tuakana
as Essie's Party Guest
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Morena Tutugoro
as Sashka
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Teariki Vaerua
as Essie's Family
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Tepori Vaerua
as Essie's Family
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Nellye Vela
as Ivan's Party Guest
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Gordana Vluck
as Croatian Relatives On Home Video
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Patrick Wilson
as Dave
