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Broken English (1981 film)

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Broken English
Film poster
Directed byMichie Gleason
Written byMichie Gleason
Produced byBert Schneider
StarringBeverly Ross
Jacques Martial
Oona O'Neill
CinematographyElliot Davis
Edited bySuzanne Fenn
Music byGeorges Delerue
Distributed byLorimar Productions
Release date
  • 1981 (1981)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Broken English is a 1981 drama film based on the theme of interracial romance. It is the only film to feature Oona O'Neill in an acting role.

Plot

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Partly subtitled, the film follows the story of Sarah, who comes under fire from her family, friends and colleagues when she marries an African man, Maas. When she discovers that Maas is part of an underground group of South African freedom fighters, she must analyze her own political and sexual beliefs.[1]

Cast

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  • Beverly Ross as Sarah
  • Jacques Martial as Maas
  • Greta Ronningen as Leslie
  • Mansour Sy as Cheekh
  • Oona O'Neill as Sarah's Mother
  • Frankie Stein as Cecile
  • Sandy Whitelaw as Arms Dealer
  • Hassane Fall as Amidau
  • Valérie Kling as Agency Woman
  • Michel Nicolini as Merchant
  • Serge Rynecki as Jacques
  • Réginald Huguenin as Pat
  • Makhete Diallo as Makhete

Production

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Broken English was the directorial debut of Michie Gleason. It was produced by Bert Schneider, whom Gleason had conflicts with; he insisted that his wife Greta Ronningen be cast in the film and pressured her to add more sex scenes.

Lorimar, the production company, refused to distribute the completed film because it was not sexually explicit enough. Schneider filed a successful lawsuit against them, but it would be his last picture as a producer. The film has never been shown or released outside of festival screenings.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Broken English | San Francisco Film Festival".
  2. ^ Biskind, Peter. Easy Riders, Raging Bulls How the Sex-Drugs-and-Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999. 397-398
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