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33 Postcards

  • 2010
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
Guy Pearce, Claudia Karvan, Lincoln Lewis, Lin Zhu, and Angie Tricker in 33 Postcards (2010)
Dean Randall has sponsored a young Chinese orphan Mei Mei for many years, when she arrives in Sydney out of the blue to thank him, their lives are changed forever.
Play trailer2:03
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19 Photos
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Dean Randall has sponsored Mei Mei, a young Chinese orphan, for many years. When she arrives in Sydney out of the blue to thank him, their lives are changed forever.Dean Randall has sponsored Mei Mei, a young Chinese orphan, for many years. When she arrives in Sydney out of the blue to thank him, their lives are changed forever.Dean Randall has sponsored Mei Mei, a young Chinese orphan, for many years. When she arrives in Sydney out of the blue to thank him, their lives are changed forever.

  • Director
    • Pauline Chan
  • Writers
    • Pauline Chan
    • Philip Dalkin
    • Martin Edmond
  • Stars
    • Guy Pearce
    • Lin Zhu
    • Claudia Karvan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Pauline Chan
    • Writers
      • Pauline Chan
      • Philip Dalkin
      • Martin Edmond
    • Stars
      • Guy Pearce
      • Lin Zhu
      • Claudia Karvan
    • 22User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 33Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos2

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:03
    Theatrical Trailer
    33 Postcards
    Trailer 2:01
    33 Postcards
    33 Postcards
    Trailer 2:01
    33 Postcards

    Photos18

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • Dean Randall
    Lin Zhu
    Lin Zhu
    • Mei Mei
    • (as Zhu Lin)
    Claudia Karvan
    Claudia Karvan
    • Barbara
    Elaine Jin
    Elaine Jin
    • Miss Chen
    Rhys Muldoon
    Rhys Muldoon
    • Gary
    Lincoln Lewis
    Lincoln Lewis
    • Carl
    Terry Serio
    Terry Serio
    • Fletch
    Matt Nable
    Matt Nable
    • Tommy
    • (as Matthew Nable)
    Kain O'Keeffe
    Kain O'Keeffe
    • Dave
    Claire Scott
    • Ruby
    Clayton Watson
    Clayton Watson
    • Brian
    Xiang-Yun Lin
    • Miss Fong
    Gary Xu
    • Orphanage Worker
    Colin Burkenshaw
    • Deputy Director
    Thomas Jackson
    • Constable Dillon
    John Atkinson
    • Chalmers
    Jack O'Rourke
    Jack O'Rourke
    • Prison Guard
    Wayne Scott Kermond
    • Bus Driver
    • Director
      • Pauline Chan
    • Writers
      • Pauline Chan
      • Philip Dalkin
      • Martin Edmond
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.11.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10keirafuentes

    Wow. Stunning. Moving. Exceptional.

    I can't comprehend how this movie has such a poor rating.. I checked it before I watched the film so I was not expecting much but giving it a crack; mainly because I love Claudia Karven.. Now I'm one to check my phone throughout a film, especially for the first 30 or so minutes but this film had me 100% focused from start to finish; a long with lump in my throat and a hand on my heart. I had to review it just so I could talk about it, because I'm sitting here absolutely touched by this film. I hope the actors are proud of it despite the reviews.. You can tell they put their everything in it and it showed by how quick I connected with each character.

    I love Australian film and 33 Postcards reminds me why I have such a place for it in my heart.
    9perkypops

    A simply beautiful story, beautifully made into a film

    It is incredible how hard it is to write a good story and yet this film takes the simple premise of an orphaned Chinese girl sponsored into schooling by a benefactor she has never met except via postcards and letters and turns it into an achingly good two hours of entertainment.

    Mei Mei, Little Sister (Zhu Lin), is a sixteen year old whose life in a Chinese Orphanage has been supported by regular payments made by Dean Randall (Guy Pearce). Mei Mei is training to be the conductor of a children's choir who are to tour in Australia which is where the bulk of this film takes place.

    The plot and screenplay are developed with such simple brushstrokes you know there is a masterpiece being painted before our eyes. And this film doesn't let you down through all its wonderful and deft touches. Even the violent scenes are made to fit the delicate canvass the whole is painted upon, and we are never driven to the need for explicit artistic license.

    The soundtrack too is so finely tuned to the images, with some breathtaking choral singing at appropriate moments. The acting is strong, brilliant from Zhu Lin and Guy Pearce, and only occasionally overstated by the support. The script is just wonderful but then the message from this film is wonderful too.

    Recommended viewing. Nine out of ten.
    6Sasha_Lauren

    Well intentioned, disjointed, worth a watch

    This is a quirky and touching movie about a sixteen year-old orphan from China, Mei-Mei, (played with pluck and naïveté by then newcomer Zhu Lin), who travels to Sydney, Australia with a children's choir and slips away to meet and thank the man whose financial donations sponsored her education; as important to her, her sponsor's steady stream of postcards about his perfect life provided her love, support and hope.

    Her journey to find Dean Randall, (played by one of my screen favorites, Guy Pearce), is a surprising one. She learns that he is a convicted killer serving time in prison where he is up for parole, and the stories he wrote in his postcards were of a fantasy life. Dean is portrayed as being a sort of killer with a heart of gold, which was hard to swallow except for the fact that Guy Pearce is so likable.

    The film passed quickly and gently. Mei-Mei and Dean form a bond, which he resists at first out of shame. It's a touching idea, however the screenplay was full of holes and the direction lacked finesse. The actors did the best they could in this production.
    10Right-Wing-Man

    This one Knocked my Socks Off!

    I don't come on here and say much... only when I feel like it is needed. When I read the previous reviews and saw the low IMDb score, I figured something was wrong somewhere? I am so glad, I trusted the previous viewers and went with my gut on this one. What a fabulous movie. It was nicely written, engaging and you really care for the characters and what happens to them. It was a very heart-felt story. This is really what love is all about. The acting was great... guy Pearce was awesome as always and Zhu Lin was also exceptional. All in all a great watch and I am truly glad that I was a part of the experience. Hats off to the actors, writers and directors well done!
    10nicole_ward

    Such a beautiful film.

    I'm not too sure why I decided to watch this film, but I am so happy that I did! This film is so emotional and meaningful; it's just so beautiful! It's not a big blockbuster smash hitting film, so if that's what you are looking for then you will be disappointed! However, if you want to see a really stunning film with such an amazing storyline, then I recommend you watch 33 postcards.

    Guy Pearce plays an excellent role in this film and carries his character through perfect.

    The meaning behind this film is what I liked so much about it. It just makes me think about life and how amazing it is. For a film to get so much of an emotional response out of me is great. This film needs to be watched and given the credit it deserves.

    I give 10/10 on the vote for 33 postcards, mainly because of the beauty. The work and emotion that has gone into this film as well as the emotion that has came out makes it such a worthy film of ten stars.

    Wow, please give this film a chance, you won't regret it. I promise.

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    Related interests

    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
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    Drama
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    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was originally titled Mei Mei.
    • Quotes

      Dean Randall: You've gotta live a good life.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of '33 Postcards' (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Ding Ding Dong
      (Traditional)

      Performed by The Wenzhou Children's Choir

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 15, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • China
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • 33 открытки
    • Filming locations
      • Gladesville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Portal Pictures
      • Zhejiang Hengdian Film Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • A$3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,547
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 37m(97 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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