Oz's 'Passion' for pianists

By VARIETY STAFF

SYDNEY --- Spurred by the success of "Shine," Oz's Film Finance Corp. (FFC) has greenlit another piano pic for production --- "Passion," from "Breaker Morant" producer Matt Carroll.

The pic profiles Oz composer-pianist Percy Grainger, whose life was as intriguing as his virtuoso playing.

Grainger grew up in Melbourne in the late 19th century under the strict tutelage of his mother, Rose, with whom he traveled to London and became the toast of society. As World War I loomed and speculation of an incestuous relationship between them grew, Percy and Rose fled to America, where Rose, suffering syphilis-induced madness, committed suicide. In 1928, Percy married Ella Strom, the spitting image of his mother, on stage after a Hollywood Bowl concert.

"Passion" is backed by the FFC, Beyond Films (which will handle most global sales), Munich-based Hollywood Partners (which has Germany and some foreign markets), local distrib Becker's REP, the U.K.'s Channel 4 and Oz moviecaster MovieVision.

Also given the go-ahead was Spank," from exec producer Rolf de Heer ("The Quiet Room") for Rome-based global sales agent Intra and local distrib Palace. Pic is about a couple trying to open a cafe with a self-styled evil thug.