15 Amore (1998)

15 Amore (1998)

15 Amore (1998)
1h 32m | Drama, Romance, War | 19 October 2000 (Australia)

Storyline:

Peace within war. An adult voice narrates a story of childhood during World War II when he lived with his mother, brother, and sister on an estate in Australia’s Hunter Valley, his father away fighting, and two Italian prisoners of war staying with them, in effect being his papa. They are joined by Jewish refugees from Berlin, a mother and daughter. There’s heat between the German daughter, Rachel, and Joseph, one of the Italians, and there’s an attraction between Dorothy, the head of the family, and Alfredo, the other Italian. A carriage accident, a tick, the local martinet, Madame Gutman’s pride, and the change that comes with peace threaten to bring tragedy. Plus, father may return.

User review:

This is a very different but very appealing film. It’s a meaningful story with any number of points to make and questions to ask, based on two Italian POW’s and two Jewish-German refugees living on an Australian farm with a woman whose husband is off fighting the Japanese. That sounds horrible, I know. But it works. It’s gripping, dramatic and visually compelling. However all through this impressive film one painful, embarrassing question nagged at me. Australia and Canada have much in common. We’re about the same size with similar populations. Why is it then that the Aussies can produce brilliant films such as this while we crank out the most dreadful stuff.

Director: Maurice Murphy
Writer: Maurice Murphy
Stars: Lisa Hensley, Steve Bastoni, Domenic Galati
Country of origin: Australia
Language: English
Filming locations: Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia