“Walkabout”, 1971
Director: Nicolas Roeg
This film tells the story of two white children who are abandoned in the Australian outback. They meet an Aboriginal boy on his “walkabout,” a traditional rite of passage journey, and he helps them survive in the harsh environment. The movie explores themes of survival, cultural differences, and the stark beauty of the Australian wilderness.
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
“Picnic at Hanging Rock”, 1975
Director: Peter Weir
This haunting, visually stunning film is as mysterious as the landscape it explores. It tells the story of a group of schoolgirls who vanish without trace during a picnic on Valentine's Day in 1900 at the imposing Hanging Rock. The film ponderously explores themes of time, civilization versus nature, and the unknown.
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
“Rabbit-Proof Fence”, 2002
Director: Phillip Noyce
This powerful true story follows three Aboriginal girls in 1931 as they escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff and set out on a journey across the Outback to find their way back home, guided by Australia's rabbit-proof fence.
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
“The Proposition”, 2005
Director: John Hillcoat
Set in the 1880s, this brutal western drama takes place in the outback of Australia, focusing on a proposition given to a captured outlaw: to kill his older brother, an even more notorious figure, to save their younger brother from the gallows. The arid, unforgiving landscape mirrors the harshness of the choices the characters must make.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, John Hurt, David Wenham, Emily Watson, Richard Wilson, Noah Taylor, Jeremy Madrona, Jae Mamuyac;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: western, crime, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “The Proposition” on the website imdb.com
“Tracks”, 2013
Director: John Curran
This film is based on the true story of Robyn Davidson, a woman who in 1977 trekked across 1,700 miles of Australian deserts, from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean, accompanied only by her dog and four camels. The stunning, vast landscape is a central figure in this tale of solitude, self-discovery, and endurance.
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Rolley Mintuma, Rainer Bock, Robert Coleby, Emma Booth, Lily Pearl, Jessica Tovey, Melanie Zanetti, Jamie Timony;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: biography, drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 113 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
“The Sapphires”, 2012
Director: Wayne Blair
While not exclusively about the landscape, this feel-good film traces the true story of an Aboriginal girl group from a remote mission in Australia who travel to Vietnam in 1968 to sing for American troops. The scenes set in Australia highlight the contrast between the rural areas where the girls come from and the urban settings they later find themselves in, reflecting on the broader changes happening in Australian society and the world.
Starring: Tanika Lonesborough, Nioka Brennan, Lynette Narkle, Kylie Belling, Tammy Anderson, Miah Madden, Ava Jean Miller-Porter, Carlin Briggs, Gregory J. Fryer, Miranda Tapsell;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy, biography, music;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “The Sapphires” on the website imdb.com
These films, among others, capture the essence, beauty, and harshness of the Australian landscape, offering audiences around the world a glimpse into the continent's diverse environments and stories.
The films that traverse the diverse Australian landscape serve not merely as showcases for the country’s vast and startling beauty but also as profound narratives that interweave the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world. From the sun-beaten outback to the tranquil coastlines, and the bustling cities to the serene wilderness, Australian landscape films transport audiences into the heart of stories that are as varied and complex as the terrains themselves. They challenge our perceptions, confront our fears, and celebrate the spirit of adventure and resilience that defines the connection between Australians and their environment. In doing so, these films contribute significantly to our understanding of not just Australia but of our place within the natural world. They remind us that the landscape is more than a backdrop; it's a character in its own right, integral to the narrative tapestry that defines Australian cinema.
