“Crocodile Dundee”, 1986
Director: Peter Faiman
This popular comedy follows an Australian crocodile hunter, Mick Dundee, as he navigates the urban jungles of New York City, contrasting his outback skills with city life.
Starring: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Ritchie Singer, Maggie Blinco, Steve Rackman, Gerry Skilton, Terry Gill, Peter Turnbull;
Production year: 1986;
Genre: action, comedy, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Crocodile Dundee” on the website imdb.com
“Australia”, 2008
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, this epic romantic historical drama stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and sets its story in Northern Australia during World War II, focusing on an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Brandon Walters, Bryan Brown, David Wenham, David Gulpilil, Shea Adams, Eddie Baroo, Ray Barrett, Tony Barry;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: drama, melodrama, adventure, western, war;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 159 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Australia” on the website imdb.com
“Rabbit-Proof Fence”, 2002
Director: Phillip Noyce
A powerful, true story of three Aboriginal girls who escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff, and set off on a journey across the Outback in a quest to return to their community.
Starring: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, Ningali Lawford, David Gulpilil, Kenneth Branagh, Myarn Lawford, Deborah Mailman, Jason Clarke, Natasha Wanganeen;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 94 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Rabbit-Proof Fence” on the website imdb.com
“Mad Max”, 1979
Director: George Miller
Set in a dystopian future where the law has broken down, Mel Gibson stars as Max Rockatansky, a cop seeking revenge against a motorcycle gang that wreaks havoc in the Australian dystopia.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Lisa Aldenhoven, David Bracks, Bertrand Cadart, David Cameron;
Production year: 1979;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 88 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Mad Max” on the website imdb.com
“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, 1994
Director: Stephan Elliott
This iconic film features two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Australian Outback in a bus named Priscilla, encountering various groups and individuals along the way.
Starring: Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter, Sarah Chadwick, Mark Holmes, Julia Cortez, Kenneth Radley, Daniel Kellie, Leighton Picken;
Production year: 1994;
Genre: comedy, music;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” on the website imdb.com
“Picnic at Hanging Rock”, 1975
Director: Peter Weir
Directed by Peter Weir, this film is a haunting mystery about the disappearance of several schoolgirls and their teacher during a Valentine's Day picnic at Hanging Rock.
Starring: Rachel Roberts, Helen Morse, Dominic Guard, John Jarratt, Margaret Nelson, Anne-Louise Lambert, Karen Robson, Christine Schuler, Jane Vallis, Wyn Roberts;
Production year: 1975;
Genre: drama, detective;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Picnic at Hanging Rock” on the website imdb.com
“Walkabout”, 1971
Director: Nicolas Roeg
A British drama about two siblings who are stranded in the Australian Outback and must rely on the help of an Aboriginal boy on his “walkabout,” a rite of passage in which he must live off the land.
Starring: Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg, David Gulpilil, John Meillon, Robert McDarra, Peter Carver, John Illingsworth, Hilary Bamberger, Barry Donnelly, Noeline Brown;
Production year: 1971;
Genre: drama, adventure;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Walkabout” on the website imdb.com
“Shine”, 1996
Director: Scott Hicks
This biographical drama tells the story of David Helfgott, an Australian pianist who suffers a mental breakdown and eventually finds healing through music.
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Noah Taylor, Armin Mueller-Stahl, John Gielgud, Lynn Redgrave, Marc Warren, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd, Chris Haywood, Alex Rafalowicz;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: biography, music, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 105 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
“The Castle”, 1997
Director: Rob Sitch
A comedy about an ordinary Australian family who fights to save their home from being compulsorily acquired by the government.
Starring: Michael Caton, Anne Tenney, Stephen Curry, Anthony Simcoe, Sophie Lee, Wayne Hope, Tiriel Mora, Eric Bana, Charles «Bud» Tingwell, Robyn Nevin;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Castle” on the website imdb.com
“Gallipoli”, 1981
Director: Peter Weir
Directed by Peter Weir, this war drama centers around two young Australian sprinters who join the ANZACs during World War I and find themselves part of the disastrous Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Mark Lee, Bill Kerr, Harold Hopkins, Charles Lathalu Yunipingu, Heath Harris, Ron Graham, Gerda Nicolson, Robert Grubb, Tim McKenzie;
Production year: 1981;
Genre: drama, adventure, war, history;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 110 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Gallipoli” on the website imdb.com
In conclusion, films about Australia offer a diverse and rich tapestry of stories that capture the unique essence of this vast and varied continent. From the outback adventures and Aboriginal tales in movies like “Walkabout” and “The Tracker” to the urban dramas and historical epics in “Rabbit-Proof Fence” and “The Castle,” these films showcase the intricate interplay between Australia's stunning landscapes, complex history, and vibrant culture. Whether exploring themes of identity, survival, or the socio-political landscape, Australian cinema provides a window into the heart and soul of a nation that is as compelling as it is distinctive.
