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(aka "Coca Cola Kid")

 

Directed by Dusan Makavejev
Australia 1985

 

When a small-town Australian soda maker refuses to convert his factory to Coca-Cola production, the parent company sends in its whiz kid “troubleshooter” Becker (Eric Roberts, The Pope of Greenwich Village and Star 80) to resolve the issue. The previously unflappable Becker, however, finds his own resolve challenged by Australia’s unique character and characters—namely Terri (Greta Scacci, The Player and White Mischief), his beautiful and very eccentric secretary, and McDowell (Bill Kerr, Gallipoli and Razorback), the stubbornly independent soft drink entrepreneur. Serbian auteur Dušan Makavejev (Montenegro and W.R.: Mysteries of the Organism) brings his celebrated off-kilter and boundary-pushing sensibilities to this classic screwball comic set-up, so that the narrative remains refreshingly unpredictable, unconventional and subversive throughout.

Becker, Terri and McDowell originate in the short stories of award-winning Australian writer Frank Moorhouse, who adapted them for the film’s screenplay. The film’s attractive primary locations—cosmopolitan Sydney and the stunning Blue Mountains region—are stylishly shot by Mad Max cinematographer Dean Semler. The original songs, including the incredibly catchy “Coca-Cola Jingle,” come from Tim Finn, founding member of popular New Zealand rock band Split Enz. 

***

An eccentric marketing guru visits a Coca-Cola subsidiary in Australia to try and increase market penetration. He finds zero penetration in a valley owned by an old man who makes his own soft drinks, and visits the valley to see why. After "the Kid's" persistence is tested he's given a tour of the man's plant, and they begin talking of a joint venture. Things get more complicated when the Coca-Cola man begins falling in love with his temporary secretary, who seems to have connections to the valley.

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 9th, 1985 (Cannes Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Fun City Editions - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Fun City Editions - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:37:59.665        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 40,885,532,797 bytes

Feature: 30,415,794,816 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.84 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Fun City Editions

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 40,885,532,797 bytes

Feature: 30,415,794,816 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.84 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Newly recorded audio commentary by film programmer Lars Nilsen and Fun City Editions' Jonathan Hertzberg
• “Dark and Bubbly,” a newly filmed video interview with star Eric Roberts (11:07)
• “The Real Thing,” an archival video interview with star Greta Scacchi and producer David Roe (32:16)
• Image Gallery
• Theatrical trailer (2:36)
Booklet with a new essay by Spike Carter


 Blu-ray Release Date: June 28th, 2022
 Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 6

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Fun City Editions Blu-ray (June 2022): Fun City Editions have transferred Dusan Makavejev's The Coca-Cola Kid to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive". It looks a bit faint and grainy but consistent, clean with heavy film-like textures.

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Fun City Editions use a linear PCM 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. The Coca-Cola Kid has few aggressive moments that come through with modest depth and score by William Motzing (One Night Stand, The Return of Captain Invincible, Dead Easy), sounding clean with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. Also heard are Tim Finn's (of 'Split Enz' fame) Coca-Cola Jingle , a didgeridoo and Waltzing Matilda performed by Conway's Carnival. Fun City Editions offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Fun City Editions Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film programmer Lars Nilsen and Fun City Editions' Jonathan Hertzberg. They discuss the extensive disclaimer at the beginning of the film, director Dusan Makavejev life and career - common themes that run through his work, Frank Moorhouse's screen play, actors Eric Roberts, Greta Scacchi, how comedy generally doesn't age well and a lot on Australia and that country's film productions. It's pretty good with a ton of information. “Dark and Bubbly,” a newly filmed 11-minute video interview with star Eric Roberts talking about his adventures in Sydney and New South Wales as well as his career. “The Real Thing,” is a half-hour archival video interview with star Greta Scacchi and producer David Roe who talk about the evolution of the production, casting etc.. Scacchi talks about her role in Merchant Ivory's Heat and Dust that led her to Cannes and meeting Dusan Makavejev, who she wanted to work with for his auteur qualities and revealing details of Roberts. Lastly, is an 'Image Gallery' and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by Spike Carter.

Dusan Makavejev's Australian romantic (kinda) comedy The Coca-Cola Kid is very odd and also fun. There are strong themes of corporatism, defiance, persistence, cultural anomalies - the unusual characters (intense Becker, impish, playful and maternal Terri, her Marxist ex-husband Kim...) make it unpredictable and bizarre. It's very memorable if covering quite a spectrum of response. I don't think it reaches the level of Ozploitation but there are some wonderful 'Down Under' landscapes. The Fun City Editions Blu-ray is the world-premiere in the format, has a new commentary, interviews and the booklet.

Gary Tooze

 

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Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:
Distribution Fun City Editions - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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