Love Serenade (1996)
A darkly comic Australian gem about two sisters competing for the affections of their mysterious, self-absorbed radio DJ neighbour.
Love Serenade - Movie Information
- Original Title: Love Serenade
- Release Year: 1996
- Directed by: Shirley Barrett
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Romance
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 10, 1996 (Australia)
- Production Companies: New South Wales Film & Television Office, Film Victoria, Jan Chapman Productions, Australian Film Finance Corporation
- Production Countries: Australia
Love Serenade - Plot
Two sisters in an Australian country town develop a fierce and competitive crush on their new neighbour, a brooding and self-centred radio personality.
Love Serenade - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of this wonderfully strange Australian comedy:
Two sisters will do anything to hook the right man.
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Love Serenade - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Shirley Barrett
Main Cast
- Miranda Otto
- Rebecca Frith
- George Shevtsov
- John Alansu
- Jessica Napier
- Jill McWilliam
Writers
- Shirley Barrett
Producers
- Jan Chapman
Love Serenade - FAQs
What is Love Serenade about?
Love Serenade follows two sisters, Dimity and Vicki-Ann Hurley, living in a sleepy Australian country town who both become obsessed with their mysterious new neighbour Ken Sherry, a self-absorbed radio DJ. The film blends dark comedy with quirky romance as their rivalry escalates in increasingly bizarre directions.
Who plays the two sisters in Love Serenade?
Miranda Otto plays the younger, more dreamy Dimity Hurley, while Rebecca Frith takes on the role of her pragmatic older sister Vicki-Ann. Both deliver standout performances, and the film marked an early career highlight for Otto, who would later gain international fame in The Lord of the Rings.
Where can you stream Love Serenade?
You can watch Love Serenade for free on Kanopy, the library-supported streaming service. If you have a library card, you likely have access already — just sign up through your local library's digital portal and search for the film.
What is strange about Ken Sherry in the film?
Ken Sherry, the brooding radio DJ played by George Shevtsov, is deliberately unsettling — cold, narcissistic, and oddly magnetic. The film hints at something genuinely uncanny about him, building a creeping sense of unease beneath the comedy. Without spoiling too much, his true nature becomes one of the film's most memorable and surreal reveals.
Did Love Serenade win any awards?
Yes — Love Serenade won the Caméra d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, awarded to the best debut feature. It was a remarkable achievement for first-time director Shirley Barrett and helped put the film on the international map as a distinctive voice in Australian cinema.
Who directed Love Serenade and is it a debut film?
Shirley Barrett both wrote and directed Love Serenade — and yes, it was her feature debut. The film's Cannes win made it an instant landmark in Australian cinema. Barrett's sharp, deadpan sensibility gives the film a tone unlike almost anything else from the era.
Is Love Serenade worth watching today?
Absolutely. Love Serenade is a genuinely unique film — darkly funny, quietly unsettling, and anchored by two excellent lead performances. Its blend of small-town Australian atmosphere, deadpan humour, and creeping strangeness has aged remarkably well. Fans of offbeat comedies or quirky character studies will find plenty to love.
Where was Love Serenade filmed?
The film was shot in Wentworth, a small town in outback New South Wales, Australia. The remote, sun-baked setting is central to the film's mood — the isolation and flatness of the landscape perfectly mirror the characters' stifled lives and simmering desperation.
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