Author | Christos Tsiolkas |
---|---|
Language | English |
Genre | novel |
Set in | Melbourne |
Publisher | Vintage Books |
Publication date | 1995 |
Publication place | Australia |
Media type | Print (paperback) |
Pages | 160 |
ISBN | 9780143790976 |
Followed by | Jump Cuts |
Loaded is the first novel by Greek-Australian writer Christos Tsiolkas. [1] It was first published in 1995 by Vintage Books, and focuses on Ari, a nineteen-year-old second generation Greek-Australian in Melbourne. [2] It follows a restless, unemployed Ari over twenty four hours as he spirals into drug use and casual sex. He is caught between the conservatism of his Greek background and modern Australia amid his homosexual desire. [3]
In 1998, it was adapted by Greek-Australian director Ana Kokkinos for the film, Head On . Greek-Australian actor, Alex Dimitriades plays the protagonist, Ari. [4]
The novel describes twenty-four hours in the life of Ari, an angst-ridden, young, gay second generation Greek Australian. [1] Ari lives with his family in the Melbourne neighbourhood of Richmond and travels across taking speed, cocaine and marijuana whenever presented to him. [5] [6] He is uncomfortable with his homosexuality; he favours hook-ups with anonymous, masculine suitors who debase or demean their own homosexuality; and he is regularly at odds with friends as well as family.
When Tsiolkas submitted the manuscript of Loaded to an independent publisher, it was rejected as "racist and homophobic". [7]
It was ultimately published by Vintage Books. [2]
Loaded was adapted as an audio play by the Malthouse Theatre company in 2020. [8] A stage adaptation of the novel premiered on 5 May 2023 at the Malthouse Theatre. [9] It was also adapted into film }Head On directed by Ana Kokkinos in 1988.
Richmond is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km (1.9 mi) east of the Melbourne central business district, located within the City of Yarra local government area. Richmond recorded a population of 28,587 at the 2021 census, with a median age of 34.
Alex Dimitriades is an Australian television, film and stage actor of Greek descent. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Nick Polides in the 1993 romantic comedy film The Heartbreak Kid and as Nick Poulos in the 1994 television teen drama spin-off Heartbreak High. He won critical acclaim for his role as Ari, a troubled second generation Greek Australian in Head On (1998). He won the Film Critics Circle of Australia award for Best Actor for the role and was nominated nominated for the AFI Award for Best Actor. In 2012, he won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for his role in The Slap.
Head On is a 1998 Australian LGBT-related romantic drama film directed by Ana Kokkinos, who wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bovell and Mira Robertson. The film is based on the 1995 novel Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas. The film stars Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis, Elena Mandalis and Damien Fotiou. The film tells the story of Ari (Dimitriades), a dissolute 19-year-old second generation Greek-Australian in Melbourne. Ari is caught between his conservative Greek background and modern Australia, amid his homosexual desire.
Ana Kokkinos is an Australian film and television director and screenwriter of Greek descent. She is known for her breakthrough feature film Head On (1998), and has directed television shows such as The Secret Life of Us, The Time of Our Lives and Ten Pound Poms.
Christos Tsiolkas is an Australian author, playwright, and screenwriter. He is especially known for The Slap, which was both well-received critically and highly successful commercially. Several of his books have been adapted for film and television.
Malthouse Theatre is the resident theatre company of The Malthouse building in Southbank, part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. In the 1980s it was known as the Playbox Theatre Company and was housed in the Playbox Theatre in Melbourne's CBD. It is a heritage-listed building which contains three theatres: Merlyn Theatre, Beckett Theatre, and The Tower.
The Book of Revelation is a 2006 Australian arthouse film directed by Ana Kokkinos and starring Tom Long, Greta Scacchi, Colin Friels, and Anna Torv. The film is adapted from the 2000 psychological fiction novel by Rupert Thomson. It tells the story of vengeance of a dancer named Daniel who is abducted and raped. It was produced by Al Clark and the soundtrack was created by Cezary Skubiszewski.
Andrew Bovell is an Australian writer for theatre, film and television.
Blessed is a 2009 Australian drama film directed by Ana Kokkinos and starring Miranda Otto and Frances O'Connor. It was released in Australia on 10 September 2009. It is a film adaptation of the play Who's Afraid of the Working Class?
Keegan Joyce is an Australian actor and singer.
Patricia Cornelius is an Australian playwright and co-founder of Melbourne Workers Theatre.
Simon Stone is an Australian film and theatre director, writer and actor.
Matthew Lutton is an Australian theatre and opera director.
Andrew Hutchinson is an Australian writer, from Melbourne, who was born in 1979.
Barracuda is an Australian drama miniseries, first broadcast on ABC TV starting 10 July 2016. The series is based on Barracuda, the 2013 novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, which explores a brutal clash of cultures, dreams and expectations and the relentless demands that are placed upon young athletes, their families, friends, schools and coaches.
Solaris is a 2019 science fiction play based on the 1961 novel of the same name by Stanisław Lem, adapted for the stage by David Greig. Its notable feature is different gender of the protagonist, as well as gender-balanced spaceship crew, combating the science fiction male-dominated cliche.
Dead Europe is a 2005 magical realist, Gothic novel written by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas. It is his third novel and was published by Vintage Random House.
Aaron Wilson is an Australian film director and screenwriter, known for the 2013 suspense war drama Canopy and the 2021 period drama Little Tornadoes.
Elena Mandalis, also known as Elle Mandalis, is an Australian television, film and stage actress of Greek descent.
Barracuda is the seventh novel by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas. Released on 26 October 2013 by Allen & Unwin, it was the follow-up to Tsiolkas' award-winning breakthrough 2008 novel The Slap.