Head On

Ari is a 19-year-old second-generation Greek Australian living in Melbourne. He is unemployed and explores illicit drugs and casual sex with men, while hiding this from his family. His search for meaning pits personal desire against familial and cultural expectations, driving his restless, impulsive behavior.

Dimitri is Ari's Marxist father, a stern figure who lectures his son about responsibility. He embodies working-class pride and traditional expectations, often clashing with Ari's independence. His intensity and insistence on discipline underscore the generational and cultural tensions in the family.

Sean is the Anglo housemate with whom Ari senses romantic chemistry. Their relationship reveals Ari's attraction beyond cultural boundaries, culminating in a complicated encounter that ends in tension. Sean's demeanor contrasts with Ari's volatility, complicating the pair's dynamic.

Dina is Joe's partner whom Ari's circle views as part of the conventional path his friends pursue. Her relationship with Joe represents the pull toward traditional stability amidst a backdrop of rebellion and risk.

Joe is a friend of Ari who chooses a conventional life by marrying Dina. His stance against Ari's spontaneous rebellion highlights the social pressures within their Greek-Australian circle.

Johnny is a flamboyant cross-dresser who defies conventions, embodying one form of rebellion within the group. His bold persona adds color and risk to the social dynamics.

Peter is Ari's brother's Anglo housemate and a figure around whom Ari's feelings for Sean swirl. His home serves as a hub for the group’s turbulent social exploration.

Tasia is Joe's mother, who privately cautions Ari through her tea-leaf reading about the dangers of his lifestyle. She brings warmth and worry to the family dynamic.

Betty is Joe's sister who also engages in risky behaviours and challenges Greek cultural norms. She forms a bridge between the siblings and the wider group, sharing in the rebellious mood.