While I’ve been writing a long post, I’ve been taping Picnic at Hanging Rock which is on the ABC at the moment. Last time I saw it, I was having trouble pinning down exactly why it’s such a haunting film. Help me out on this one?
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just to incite the reactionaries: postmodern gothic for an aussie context. the fear of nature manifest as the unknown violence against innocents. it is pomo because it allegedly inverts the normative gothic trope of spaces within spaces (commonly represented as an ‘evil’ house) by playing with the spatiality of ‘nature’. it also resonates with the emergence of ‘nature’ in young women…
i did a third of a unit called ‘postmodern gothic’ and this was one of the texts. it was kind of cool reading all the old school lit texts. hmmm, forgotten most of it now though. haha…
just to incite the reactionaries: postmodern gothic for an aussie context. the fear of nature manifest as the unknown violence against innocents. it is pomo because it allegedly inverts the normative gothic trope of spaces within spaces (commonly represented as an ‘evil’ house) by playing with the spatiality of ‘nature’. it also resonates with the emergence of ‘nature’ in young women…
i did a third of a unit called ‘postmodern gothic’ and this was one of the texts. it was kind of cool reading all the old school lit texts. hmmm, forgotten most of it now though. haha…
Not to mention a lotta male psyches were getting wired up around that time on the kinda sexual gestalt embodied in David Hamilton’s “artistic” studies.
Not to mention a lotta male psyches were getting wired up around that time on the kinda sexual gestalt embodied in David Hamilton’s “artistic” studies.
Help is at hand.
Help is at hand.
For the Rock itself – Ask anyone who’s ever been there. The local Aborigines talk of a sense of ‘unfinshed business’ there. It really is a freaky place, full of weird energy. Its surprisingly easy to get lost up the top. I got lost there the first time I went – then a Koala screamed as I was coming back down – scared the pants off me.
As for the film – terror nullius.
For the Rock itself – Ask anyone who’s ever been there. The local Aborigines talk of a sense of ‘unfinshed business’ there. It really is a freaky place, full of weird energy. Its surprisingly easy to get lost up the top. I got lost there the first time I went – then a Koala screamed as I was coming back down – scared the pants off me.
As for the film – terror nullius.
The mystery of what happened to the girls did it for me. I have to say even though I have now read the final chapter of the book, it did absolutely nothing to enlighten me, even though I read all the explanatory notes. It was just the vibe of the thing.
The mystery of what happened to the girls did it for me. I have to say even though I have now read the final chapter of the book, it did absolutely nothing to enlighten me, even though I read all the explanatory notes. It was just the vibe of the thing.
Yes – it was a combination of that most delicate English insitution, the private girls school – being exposed to the Australian bush and a host of ancient dark forces (sexual, spiritual etc..), where they are pulled against their will into the sexual/ existential void
Is there another film quite like it?
Yes – it was a combination of that most delicate English insitution, the private girls school – being exposed to the Australian bush and a host of ancient dark forces (sexual, spiritual etc..), where they are pulled against their will into the sexual/ existential void
Is there another film quite like it?
It’s also presented to the audience at a distance.. (for me anyway) there is no immediate emotional connection, it’s all a bit removed, mystic and ethreal, and hence, haunting. It’s got that ghost story quality, where you don’t know what actually happened and what didn’t… and what MIGHT happen to you…
It’s also presented to the audience at a distance.. (for me anyway) there is no immediate emotional connection, it’s all a bit removed, mystic and ethreal, and hence, haunting. It’s got that ghost story quality, where you don’t know what actually happened and what didn’t… and what MIGHT happen to you…
I caught a snippet last night – the bit where the young gentleman talks to the servant boy (a Currency Lad?) – contra Glen, I reckon you could do a class analysis of the film!
I caught a snippet last night – the bit where the young gentleman talks to the servant boy (a Currency Lad?) – contra Glen, I reckon you could do a class analysis of the film!
The pan pipes. It was the pan pipes.
The pan pipes. It was the pan pipes.
Yeah, saint, yr right – I got obsessed with pan pipes after I saw the film. Off to watch it now.
Yeah, saint, yr right – I got obsessed with pan pipes after I saw the film. Off to watch it now.
It was a coincidence of lots of factors. A particular generation of young women in the full joy of youth created a great cast. It tries very very hard to be convincing, even implying it is a true story. It imagined its way past cliche into the spirit of the times, and created some cliches by doing it.
And it was the first mature film of a very very good director, probing his own genuine fascination with the inexplicable. We weren’t used to films being so well made that early in the Australian film revival.
Plus, Nabs is right. As I understand the gossip, the cast and crew fucked like rabbits.
Does the film still work?
BTW – check out Wain Fimeri’s Gallipoli film on sunday night. His “Love Letters from a War” is also on. The latter at least is fabulous.
It was a coincidence of lots of factors. A particular generation of young women in the full joy of youth created a great cast. It tries very very hard to be convincing, even implying it is a true story. It imagined its way past cliche into the spirit of the times, and created some cliches by doing it.
And it was the first mature film of a very very good director, probing his own genuine fascination with the inexplicable. We weren’t used to films being so well made that early in the Australian film revival.
Plus, Nabs is right. As I understand the gossip, the cast and crew fucked like rabbits.
Does the film still work?
BTW – check out Wain Fimeri’s Gallipoli film on sunday night. His “Love Letters from a War” is also on. The latter at least is fabulous.
I reckon Glen might like Peter Weir’s previous film “The Cars That Ate Paris”. Must admit its a bit of a guilty pleasure.
I reckon Glen might like Peter Weir’s previous film “The Cars That Ate Paris”. Must admit its a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Lady, now I’ve seen it all – a stream-of-consciousness/beatnik spambot!
Lady, now I’ve seen it all – a stream-of-consciousness/beatnik spambot!
“Backed unequivocal steer Jupiter cruising buns?”
Now who says computers can’t write poetry?
“Jupiter Cruising Buns” I feel a band coming on. Why are you looking at me like that? “The Mars Volta” was a pretty stupid name too.
“Backed unequivocal steer Jupiter cruising buns?”
Now who says computers can’t write poetry?
“Jupiter Cruising Buns” I feel a band coming on. Why are you looking at me like that? “The Mars Volta” was a pretty stupid name too.
Argh! Not the Mars Volta! Stupid name, stupid lyrics, stupid music, stupid, stupid band.
Argh! Not the Mars Volta! Stupid name, stupid lyrics, stupid music, stupid, stupid band.
As tempting as it is to leave the spam there for its poetical value, it’s gotta go. Sorry.
As tempting as it is to leave the spam there for its poetical value, it’s gotta go. Sorry.
No harm done, Nabs had the foresight to preserve the best bit.
No harm done, Nabs had the foresight to preserve the best bit.
Damn Robert, you sound just like my Mum telling us kids to put the sea snake back in the rockpool.
Damn Robert, you sound just like my Mum telling us kids to put the sea snake back in the rockpool.