Under One Roof: The Kapsalides Family

Streaming video - 2003

Meet the Kapsalides - a close-knit family of mum and two daughters who are proud of what they’ve achieved as a sole-parent household.. Helen was born in Australia to a Greek father and Lebanese mother. She met her Greek husband when she was 23 and had two children before she discovered from police that he was a bigamist. Although she divorced him, her daughters Julie and Simone say the family has never said a bad word about their father, who has since died.. The girls have a clutch of loving relatives and another inspiring role model in Helen’s gutsy mum, who brought up seven children almost single-handedly and is still helping them out.. But this is not a stereotypical Lebanese-Greek household. Helen has supported the family by working... most nights in a pub. She has always been open with her girls, giving them freedom and encouraging them to make the most of their education and opportunities. At 17 and 22, Julie and Simone are strong, beautiful and intelligent. Opinionated and lively, these three women are always talking - about work, money, music, boys - and they love a party.. Now, the family is at a turning point. Julie has just finished high school and is wondering about university. Simone, who edits her own hip-hop magazine, is looking for her first full-time job. And Helen is about to turn 50 and has promised to give up smoking. She lost her job a few weeks ago after the pub changed hands. The new owners want her back as a manager but Helen is not so sure.. Despite this uncertain future, the family is strong. They know they have each other.. A Film Australia National Interest Program. Produced in association with SBS Independent. 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.. more