The conservative anti-Communist era of the 1950’s, the Cold War and the “Reds under the bed” - in Sydney, Australia, a young Chinese boy grows up and the Irish/Australian neighbours suspect his family might very well be Communists. The paranoia of the O’Hallorans takes on a comic twist when the boy’s Uncle Walter arrives in the country. A refugee from the Chinese Communist Revolution, the O’Hallorans take him for a Communist spy instead. Seen through the not-so-innocent eyes of 10 year-old Robert Ah Louey, the film captures the social attitudes of the 1950’s, the cultural nuances of neighbours on either side of the fence, and in the process saying something of what it was like being Chinese in Australia during the 50’s. Cast includes Adam Gungor (Robert), Terry Woo (Uncle Walter), Genevieve Mooy (Dolores O’Halloran), Peter Whitford (Jack O’Halloran). (Awards: Special Prize, ATOM Awards, 1993; Finalist, Best Fiction Category and EAC Award, Sydney Film Festival, 1992; Nominated Best Short Film AFI Awards, 1992)
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
315503
Language
English
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Film festivals - Australia - Sydney - Awards
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Motion pictures - Awards
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Chinese - Australia
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → East and west
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → National characteristics, Australian
Armed Forces, Military, War & Weapons → East and west
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Chinese - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Communism - Australia
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Communism - China
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Conflict of generations
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Conservatism
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Cross-cultural studies
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Cultural relativism
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Culture conflict
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → East and west
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Multiculturalism
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → National characteristics, Australian
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Values
Education, Instruction, Teaching & Schools → Cross-cultural studies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Conflict of generations
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Values
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Conflict of generations
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Values
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)