Movies

Around the Block

Synopsis

Around the Block is about breaking family and cultural cycles for a hopeful future.

A contemporary story of love, revenge, and triumph, a young Aboriginal boy becomes torn between his unexpected love of acting and the disintegration of his family.

His passionate high school drama teacher has a love of Shakespeare. She is forced to face her own sexuality whilst helping her teenage students to live their own truths.

Set at the time of the 2004 Redfern riots, Around the Block tells an emotional and aspirational journey of hope, triumph and believing in yourself against the odds.

Around the Block revolves around an American drama teacher (Ricci) who develops a friendship with a 16-year-old Australian-Aboriginal boy (Page-Lochard)

Trailer

About the director

Sarah Spillane is a long-time Redfern resident who taught at the largely Aboriginal Eora College.

We have such a misconception of Redfern. What I was trying to do in Around the Block was show these kids all have their individual stories and obstacles, but there's so much hope and so much cause for celebration.

— Sarah Spillane, director

Details

Cast
Aaron L. McGrath - Joseph
Amanda Wiltshire - Officer Blythe
Andrea Demetriades - Kate
Anthony Gee - Tim
Braydn Pittman - Jason
Christina Ricci - Dino Chalmers
Corey Carr - Damien
Damian Walshe-Howling - Mr. Graham
Damion Hunter - Uncle Charlie
Daniel Henshall - Simon
Elias Reese - Toby
Guy Simon - Jacob
Hunter Page-Lochard - Liam Wood
Jack Thompson - Mr. O'Donnell
Josh Quong Tart - Barry Griffen
Justin Smith - Chris
Madeline Madden - Williemai
Marcello Fabrizi - TV Journalist
Mark Brady - Bug
Mark Coles Smith - Steve Wood
Matt Nable - Jack Wood (as Matthew Nable)
Millie Samuels - Sarah - Minister's Assistant
Nicholas Cassim - Sergeant Todd
Niki Owen - Ms. Ross
Rhiannon Myee - Beth
Ruby Rose - Hannah
Sam Lyndon - Brucey
Shai Pittman - Tamika
Sophie Gregg - Julie
Travis Cardona - Adam
Trevor Jamieson - Uncle Rex
Ursula Yovich - Chrissie Wood
Yure Covich - Man
Release dates
2013 - USA
6 September 2013 - Canada (premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival)
March 2014 - Australia
Video/DVD release date
16 July 2014
Rating
M - Mature
Distributor
Pinnacle Films
Soundtrack
Nick Wales

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Cite this page

Korff, J 2021, Around the Block, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/around-the-block>, retrieved 12 December 2024

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