Film festival offers first chance to view some of Australia’s contemporary films
Often overlooked, the Australian industry is famous for the stars it has launched in Hollywood rather than the undervalued contribution to world cinema. As a reminder, and possibly an introduction for some, the Australian Embassy in Cairo is hosting a film festival at the Cairo Opera House this week, screening a selection of contemporary feature films. A number of the films selected for the festival are set against the extraordinary backdrop of the Australian wilderness and astonishing landscapes. Take this opportunity to watch some of Australia’s significant works, and learn about a cinematic movement that is unique, non-commercialized, but highly accessible to audiences.
CINEMA DOWN UNDER
Many are surprised to hear that Australian cinema is one of the oldest in the world, beginning in the 1900s with the emergence of world cinema in the US and Europe.
Indeed a little known fact is that the earliest known feature length narrative film in the world was the Australian production “The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906).
The Australian film industry boomed in the 1910s – Australia was one of the most prolific film-producing countries at the time. However the influx of cheap Hollywood-made films meant that by the early 1920s American films dominated the Australian cinematic market.
During this period, Australian cinema was characterized by the search for a national identity, and the emphasis on presenting an idealistic worldview and moralistic characterization. The themes seemed isolated from any substantial universal conflicts.
In the 1970s the first cinematic revolution took place when Australia’s most noted director Peter Weir released his masterpiece “Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and “Gallipoli (1981). This revolution was characterized by Australia’s first step towards realism and building a social identity. This movement was accompanied by a stream of commercial films headed by the famous Mad Max series, featuring Mel Gibson in his first starring role. The movies released during this movement made the world sit up and take notice of Australian cinema.
By the 1990s most major Australian directors headed to Hollywood, leaving the local industry in a minor slump. Only a handful of directors, such as Baz Luhrmann with “Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Jane Kampion’s “The Piano (1993) kept the Australian industry from remaining on the fringes of mainstream cinema.
Current Australian cinema can be characterized by realism and exploring realms of local culture that are rarely addressed in film.
The Main Attraction
“Strictly Ballroom (Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 pm and Monday, Nov. 20 at 5 pm)
From Baz Lurhrmann, this romantic comedy about the underbelly of ballroom dancing will leave you laughing. Lurhmann’s directorial debut is an example of his mastery of the art of telling ordinary stories by creating larger-than-life characters in a visually dazzling fashion – a talent he later refines with “Romeo and Juliet and “Moulin Rouge.
“Rabbit Proof Fence (Sunday, Nov. 19 at 5 pm)
Directed by one of the greatest directors, Philip Noyce (“Newsfront, “Patriot Games ) and featuring Kenneth Brannagh along with a host of newcomers, the film is one of the most heartbreaking films to come out of Australia in the last five years. The film relates the simple journey of three young Aboriginal girls across an unforgiving landscape in search of their mother.
“Ned Kelly (Sunday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 pm and Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 5 pm)
Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, and Naomi Watts – three of the currently most prolific young exports to Hollywood – star in a rather disappointing adaptation of Australia’s most notorious outlaws. The film is a romanticized, fictionalized account of the outlaws’ life that takes creative license in diverting from the actual historical events. The film features music by world-renowned musician Peter Gabriel.
“The Man from Snowy River (Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 pm)
A formulaic yet touching and sweepingly popular melodrama featuring Kirk Douglas in a story about a family feud in rural Australia and a son’s quest to save the family farm. Veteran Hollywood actor Douglas plays two roles as twin brothers who haven t spoken for years, one of whom was the best friend of the lead character Jim s father and the other of whom is the father of the girl Jim wants to marry. A 20-year old feud re-erupts, catching Jim and his would-be-wife in the middle.
The Dish (Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 pm)
If you only have time to watch one of the festival’s films, this should be it. This patriotic comedy recaptures the 1969 moon landing, without preaching patriotism. It may have been one small step for man, but for a handful of Aussie scientists, it was a giant leap. A little-known fact is that those immortal images came via a dish in outback Australia. Based on an amazing true story, this is a funny and moving tale of Australia s part in the Apollo 11 moon mission. The film is absolutely endearing and actually captures the universal optimism and hope inspired by Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon.
