Synopsis

Romance novelist Sophie lives out her fantasies mainly through her writing, while relying on crutches and a leg brace after surviving polio. After breaking her leg in an absurd accident, she finds herself treated differently and begins pursuing Eddie, a charming jewel dealer. Their relationship grows complicated when Eddie's engagement, criminal dealings, and pursuit by an unusual detective threaten to derail Sophie's newfound romance.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was originally titled Lucky Break. It was released in the United States as Paperback Romance, while Lucky Break remained the Australian title.

• The story deliberately blends romance-novel conventions with real-life complications. Sophie is not merely a reader of romantic fantasies; she writes erotic novellas and sometimes reads them aloud in public.

• Sophie's accident involves her trying to hide her limp while following Eddie through a shopping mall. The resulting shopping-cart mishap sends her from the second floor to the first and becomes the turning point in her romantic pursuit.

• The film was shot in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and runs approximately 94 minutes.

• The two performers playing the central couple were a real-life couple at the time of the film's release.

• The film received an Australian Film Institute nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1995.

• Although it attracted strong notices in Australia, the film had a limited commercial run. Its Australian box-office total was reported at approximately $197,540, and its later US release was also limited.