Set in share-houses in inner-city Melbourne in the late 1970s in this adaption of Helen Garner's novel follows a group of young urbanites including Nora (Noni Hazlehurst), her daughter Gracie (Alice Garner, daughter of novelist Helen Garner), and her junkie lover Javo (Colin Friels). Monkey Grip also features The Divinyls lead singer Chrissie Amphlett as Angela, a scorned lover in a rock band.