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Broken English (1996)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 39

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Movie Info

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

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Drama, Romance

Directed By: Gregor Nicholas

Written By: Gregor Nicholas, Johnana Pigott, Jim Salter

On DVD: Jan 20, 1998

Cast

Aleksandra Vujcic
Nina
Rade Serbedzija
Ivan
Julian "Sonny" Arahanga
Eddie
Temuera Morrison
Manu
Greg Johnson
Doug
Yang Li-ching
Wu
Stephen Hall
Ivan's Mate
Marton Csokas
Darko
Madeline McNamara
Mira
Li Yang
Wu
Zhao Jing Chen
Clara
Michael Langley
Jura
Stephen Ure
Ivan's Mate
Chris Anderton
Palermo Band
Gilbert Goldie
Cab Driver
Barbara Cartwright
Jasmin
Amanda Rees
Nurse
Nancy Anthony
Essie's Party Guest
Vinko Bakich
Ivan's Mate
Mary Ball
Essie's Party Guest
Rudi Bartus
Ivan's Party Guest
Milka Bilcic
Ivan's Party Guest
Zeljko Bilcic
Ivan's Mate
Dominic Blaazer
Palermo Band
Berta Boric
Ivan's Party Guest
Sinisa Copic
Croatian Relatives On H...
Tetapu Daniel
Essie's Party Guest
Nora Eiao
Essie's Party Guest
Terangi Eiao
Essie's Party Guest
Dywane George
Essie's Party Guest
George More O'Ferrall
Essie's Party Guest
Crystal Harris
Essie's Family
Shane Harris
Essie's Family
Anna Jankovaic
Croatian Relatives On H...
Zaho Jing
Clara
Mirija Jukic
Ivan's Party Guest
Naomi Kino
Essie's Family
Tihana Kovacevic
Ivan's Party Guest
Emma Lovell
Nina And Eddie's Daught...
Jerry Lovrin
Ivan's Party Guest
Apera Mangi
Essie's Party Guest
Elizabeth Marvic
Vanya
Tiromoana Mil
Essie's Party Guest
Junior Moses
Essie's Party Guest
Ajrin Nenadic
Ivan's Party Guest
Iavn Nobilo
Ivan's Party Guest
Mary Nola
Ivan's Party Guest
Tony Pecotic
Ivan's Party Guest
Rocky Pepe
Essie's Family
Bruno Relic
Croatian Relatives On H...
Mona Ross
Auntie Marja
Chris Ruka
Reverend Essie
Romey Ruka
Essie's Party Guest
Pero Skoric
Ivan's Party Guest
Makedon Stojkov
Croatian Relatives On H...
Fred Sy
Chow
Taokotaianga Cultural Gro...
Essie's Party Guest
The Dalmatian Club Of Auc...
Ivan's Party Guest
Marija Tomic
Ivan's Party Guest
Nui Tuakana
Essie's Wife
Tai Tuakana
Essie's Party Guest
Morena Tutugoro
Sashka
Teariki Vaerua
Essie's Family
Tepori Vaerua
Essie's Family
Nellye Vela
Ivan's Party Guest
Gordana Vluck
Croatian Relatives On H...
Patrick Wilson
Dave

Critic Reviews for Broken English

All Critics (34) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (3)

An absorbing portrait of New Zealand's ill-blended melting pot.

January 1, 2000 Comment

Mike Clark

USA Today

Top Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

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.

July 20, 2007 Comment

Sean Means

Salt Lake Tribune

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Broken English

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Una f�rmula extremadamente conocida en un contexto diferente. No goza de actuaciones muy convincentes pero s� de una buena direcci�n y un gui�n que, aunque ligeramente predecible, no carece de emoci�n y complejidad.

August 19, 2011

Jhordan Welsch

this movie is not nearly as disturbing or intense as "once were warriors." but it is effective as a love story trying to survive through family conflict..

January 11, 2005

shane m

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