Broken English
“Sometimes when you make love you make war.”
Synopsis
Ivan is the fierce patriarch of a family of Croatian refugees living in Auckland during the Yugoslav wars. Nina is his daughter, ready to live on her own, despite his angry objections. Eddie is the Maori she takes as her lover. Nina works at the restaurant where Eddie cooks. For a price, she agrees to marry another restaurant employee, a Chinese man, so that he can establish permanent residency. The money gives her the independence she needs to leave her parents' house and move in with Eddie. Complications arise when Eddie realizes the depth of her father's fury and the strength of Nina's family ties.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Broken English (1996/97) trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2021-06-28
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
May 2, 1997
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gregor Nicholas
- Screenplay & Story
- James Salter, Gregor Nicholas, Johanna Pigott
- Original Title
- Broken English
- Country of Origin
- New Zealand
- Spoken Languages
- English, Japanese, Maori, Serbo-Croatian
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Communicado Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gregor Nicholas
James Salter, Gregor Nicholas, Johanna Pigott
John Toon
David Coulson
Robin Scholes, Timothy White
Department Leadership Roster
Gregor Nicholas
Director
James Salter
Writer
Gregor Nicholas
Writer
Johanna Pigott
Writer
John Toon
Director of Photography
Robin Scholes
Producer
David Coulson
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NC-17: Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.
International Certification Matrix
Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Broken English.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Broken English
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Broken English about?
Ivan is the fierce patriarch of a family of Croatian refugees living in Auckland during the Yugoslav wars. Nina is his daughter, ready to live on her own, despite his angry objections. Eddie is the Maori she takes as her lover. Nina works at the restaurant where Eddie cooks. For a price, she agrees to marry another restaurant employee, a Chinese man, so that he can establish permanent residency. The money gives her the independence she needs to leave her parents' house and move in with Eddie. Complications arise when Eddie realizes the depth of her father's fury and the strength of Nina's family ties.
Who directed Broken English?
Broken English was directed by Gregor Nicholas.
Who stars in Broken English?
The principal cast of Broken English includes Rade Šerbedžija, Aleksandra Vujcic, Julian Arahanga, Marton Csokas, Stephen Ure.
When was Broken English released and how long is it?
Broken English was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Broken English?
Broken English holds official age classifications: US: NC-17 (Adults Only — No one 17 and under admitted.).