All the books by Christos Tsiolkas adapted to cinema and television, ranked

The story is set in 1996 and revolves around Danny Kelly, a gifted swimmer who receives a sports scholarship to attend a prestigious private school in Melbourne. Being half Greek and half Irish and from a working-class background, he is subjected to harassment from the wealthy students. Despite this, Danny dreams of winning a swimming gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. With the help of his highly regarded coach Frank Torma, Danny develops a friendship and rivalry with his teammate Martin Taylor, which inspires him to break a world record.

During a family barbecue in the suburbs of Melbourne, a man becomes angry and slaps an unruly child who is a guest at the gathering. This incident leads to strained relationships among the family and friends when the mother of the boy files charges for assault.

In a span of 24 hours, 19-year-old Ari grapples with his sexuality and Greek heritage. Obsessed with sex, he engages in multiple sexual encounters, mostly with men, and pursues his friend’s sister. However, he struggles to come to terms with his traditional Greek parents, who are unaware of his drug use and sexual activities.

Hector is a government employee, a husband, a father, and a cherished friend who is about to turn 40. His wife, Aisha, who is smart and attractive, is organizing a lively party for him with his noisy Greek relatives and friends. It appears to be a perfect day, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Isaac, a young photographer, travels to Greece with his father’s ashes but discovers a dark family secret involving a young Jewish boy. Despite his attempts to distract himself with sex and drugs, Isaac’s world crumbles as he realizes he cannot evade the haunting memories of the past.