My First Wife is a 1984 Australian drama film directed by Paul Cox. The film won several AFI Awards in 1984.

Plot

The film follows the dissolution of John and Helen's marriage and the aftermath.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the breakdown of Cox's marriage. He started writing the script, showed it to Bob Ellis and the two men wrote the screenplay together. (Ellis says they spent a day and a half on it. ) The film was shot mostly at a house in Williamstown in Melbourne.

Music

Choir: Members of the Tudor Choristers directed by David Carolane Christoph Willibald Gluck: "Orpheus & Euridice". Berliner Symphoniker – Hermann Prey Conductor – Horst Stein Joseph Haydn - "Paukenmesse" Bayerischen Rundfunks Symphony Orchestra & Chorus Conductor – Rafael Kubelik, Polygram Ann Boyd - "As I crossed a Bridge of Dreams", "Cycle of love", Faber Music Ltd. Carl Orff - "Carmine Burana" Czech Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, Conducted by Vaclev Smetacek, Supraphon Rene Geyer - "Hot Minuets", Mushroom Records, Australia Frans Sussmayr - "Grandfather's Birthday Celebration", Hungarian Radio Children's Chorus, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Conductor – Laszlo Csanyl

Box office

My First Wife grossed $413,199 at the box office in Australia, which is equivalent to $1,049,525 in 2009 dollars.

Awards

My First Wife won in 1984 AFI Awards in the Best Actor in a Lead Role (John Hargreaves), Best Director (Paul Cox), Best Original Screenplay (Paul Cox, Bob Ellis) categories and was nominated in 4 more categories. Paul Cox also won the 1986 Grand Prix award at Film Fest Gent in 1986.