Starring Rachel Roberts, Dominic Guard, Helen Morse and Jacki Weaver
Written by Cliff Green
Directed by Peter Weir
Australia 1975
107 mins
Australia has been in the headlines many times this year as a series of gigantic fires have devastated large areas of the country. A stark reminder not only of the effects of climate change but also of the extraordinary, harsh and unforgiving environment of that country. Its natural beauty is undeniable but so are the perils of getting lost or stranded in the bush...
'Picnic At Hanging Rock' was one of the first Australian films from the so-called 'New Wave' of directors to find success. Its potent mixture of Victorian manners, schoolgirl dynamics and subtly supernatural overtones drew in audiences worldwide. The film's director Peter Weir would go on to have a highly successful Hollywood career - helming a series of intelligent mainstream movies including 'Witness', 'The Truman Show' and 'Master And Commander'. He has twice won BAFTA's for best director.
'Picnic At Hanging Rock' is set on Valentine's Day 1900 in the state of Victoria. A group of schoolgirls and two of their teachers travel to a local landmark to picnic but in the course of day mysterious events occur and several of the party go missing...
The eerie atmosphere and strange, stark majesty of the geography is perfectly captured by the evocative camerawork of Russell Boyd who won a BAFTA for his work. He would go on to win the Oscar for best cinematography on 'Master And Commander' in 2003.
The performances are excellent - the brilliant Welsh actress Rachel Roberts plays the stern headmistress of the school while Dominic Guard, who shot to fame as the child star of 'The Go-Between', plays a young local man who becomes embroiled in the mystery.
Joan Lindsay's novel, on which the picture is based, is ambiguous as to whether the story was true - it is in fact entirely fictitious - but such is the films power many that believe the events actually happened...
Please join us for this screening of an unusual and haunting classic.
