Why Go Back to Cinemas? To See Aussies Pash On in "The Broken Hearts Gallery"

Duh.

It’s been a long, long, long, long, long, long, long (*checks watch*) super long time since you’ve probably been in a cinema, thanks to, y’know, the global pandemic we just lived through/continue to live through/oh god is this our new normal?

But movie houses are actually re-opening in July, and in the case of Western Australia, have already re-opened (with exceptions). The problem, however, is cinemas actually having anything to screen. (Admittedly, Bloodshot and Cats revival showings may not be enough to entice back punters, especially given the lower capacity.)

But over the next few weeks, actual new releases will return to the big screen, from The King of Staten Island to Tenet. But what will be the first movie to tempt you back to the communal movie-watching experience, near (gulp) actual other people?

Producer Selena Gomez hopes it’ll be The Broken Hearts Gallery, a rom-com that opens in Australia on 16 July 6 August. (Though, you better check your fave cinema’s listings online, because it’s really unclear at this point which ones will be open, and how many people they’ll let into each showing, depending on your state.)

The Broken Hearts Gallery stars Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers, Miracle Workers) as Lucy, a recent dumpee in New York City who teams up with Nick, played by Dacre Montgomery (Stranger Things) to start a museum of items left behind by ex-lovers. And maybe, just maybe, if there's any justice in this sick world of ours, they'll develop feelings for one another too. Check out the new trailer below.

Though Gomez doesn’t actually star in the thing, The Broken Hearts Gallery deserves your attention for its two charismatic leads, who, we are proud to say, are actual, honest-to-goodness Aussies. (Dacre is from Perth and Geraldine is from Newcastle.) Yes, they may be putting on American accents, but if there’s a reason to head back into theatres next month, watching talented up-and-comers Viswanathan and Montgomery romance one another might be it. It’s practically your civic duty. (Also, Viswanathan is a master of comic timing, so that bodes well for the film actually being good too.)

The Broken Hearts Gallery is written and directed by Natalie Krinsky. It arrives in cinemas 16 July 6 August.

Update: This article was updated on 30 June to reflect the date change by Sony Pictures Australia to 6 August (in line with the US release). So, it won't be the first film back, but hey, still looks good!

Header Image: Sony Pictures Australia