Turkey Shoot
This infamous 1982 Ozploitation movie directed by Jon Hewitt and produced by Tony Ginnane is set in a dystopian future, where the world is ruled by a strict totalitarian regime and ‘social deviants’ are sent to a concentration camp known as ‘The Establishment’ for re-education and behaviour modification. Here, hunting is the national sport and people are the prey.
Patrick
Richard Franklin’s Patrick was a minor hit back in 1978, before it became cult with the retro crowd (largely thanks to some typically loud love from one Quentin Tarantino). Patrick is deep in a coma in hospital after murdering his mother and her lover three years ago. Pretty Nurse Jacquard senses that Patrick is communicating with her, and is using psychic powers to manipulate events in her life, with chilling effect.
Thirst
This 1979 Australian vampire film centers on young and in love Kate, who finds herself abducted by a cult of blood drinking, self-proclaimed ‘supermen’ who inform her of her ancient lineage of descent to vampire Elizabeth Bathory. The ancient evil of vampirism is now a modern industry, backed by big money. The Brotherhood’s human farm is a living nightmare where science goes mad.
All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane
Anthea is 25, single, hates her job – and all her friends are leaving Brisbane. Should she follow the herd to Sydney or London? Is there anything worth staying for now that her best friend Michael finally has a girlfriend? This romcom gem, a surprise hit, boasts an exciting array of fresh young Aussie talent, a smart and funny script and deserves to be watched and rewatched.
Last Ride
This haunting drama follows desperate father (Hugo Weaving), who takes his 10-year-old son, Chook (Tom Russell), on the run after committing a violent crime. As the two journey into the South Australian desert and an unknown future, their troubled relationship and the need to survive sees them battling the elements and each other. Chook eventually takes control and the choice he is forced to make has a devastating effect on both their lives.
Puberty Blues
When Bruce Beresford brought to the big screen in 1979 the novel Puberty Blues, written by Sydney teenagers Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, it became an instant hit, thanks to its depiction tainted with brutal realism, but also humour, of the beach culture and Australian teenagers' lifestyles in the late '70s. It follows two teenage girls from ‘The Shire’ (Nell Schofield, Jad Capelja) in their attempts to join the cool surfing crowd.
Windrider
In one of her first adult roles, Nicole Kidman plays a rock singer who falls in love with a wealthy man's son (Tom Burlinson), a professional windsurfer in Western Australia. But as the romance blossoms, his career is put at risk. To catch for a big bowl of '80s music and fashion, Nicole's bouncy red hair (and a few seconds of her derriere) and great windsurfing scenes.
Head On
In this brilliant, yet confronting film adapted from Christos Tsiolkas' 1995 novel Loaded, Alex Dimitriades (The Heartbreak Kid) plays Ari, a young man caught between his Greekness, his Australianness, his gayness and his city of Melbourne. Ari jams all his energy and defiance, pain and joy into one high velocity night of dancing, sex and drugs.
Sirens
In this star-studded film, an uptight and upright English couple, the Reverend Tony Camden (Hugh Grant) and his wife Estella (Tara Fitzgerald), visit the artist Norman Lindsay (Sam Neill) en route to their new parish, in order to persuade him to remove a controversial painting from an upcoming exhibition. Estella finds herself seduced by the sensuality of her surroundings and the bohemian lifestyle led by Lindsay, his wife and his often nude models (Elle Macpherson, Portia Di Rossi).
The Interview
Hugo Weaving gives an outstanding performance portraying Eddie Fleming, a man whose solitary and fairly impoverished existence is disrupted by the police, when he is initially brought in to the station to be questioned in relation to a stolen car. As the interview progresses, it is slowly revealed that there is more to the interrogation than meets the eye. Winner at the 1998 AFI for Best Film, for Best Original Screenplay and for Best Actor.
The Horseman
Winner of the Best Director and Best Film awards at the 2008 Melbourne Underground Film Festival, this film introduces first-time Australian director Steven Kastrissios. Divorcee Christian (Peter Marshall) is grieving over the death of his daughter when he receives an anonymous snuff film that stars his heavily intoxicated daughter in the horrific lead role. He unleashes an almighty reign of violence, as he seeks answers and takes revenge on those involved. Not for the sensitive souls out there.
Blackfellas
Based the book The Day of The Dog by Archie Weller, this film tells of an Aboriginal man Doug (John Moore) caught between his allegiance to his “people” and his aspirations to escape the cycle of abuse and self-destructive behaviour in which they live in the name of “brotherhood”. Winner of the AFI Award in 1993 for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (David Ngoombujarra).
Dingo
In this movie directed by Rolf De Heer (The Tracker, Charlie's Country), young John Anderson (Colin Friels) is captivated by jazz musician Billy Cross (Miles Davis, in one of his last performances on film) when he performs on the remote airstrip of his Western Australian outback hometown after his plane is diverted. Years later, now a family man and making a meagre living tracking dingoes and playing trumpet in a local band, John still dreams of joining Billy on trumpet and makes a pilgrimage to Paris.
The Rage In Placid Lake
In this charming Australian comedy based on director Tony McNamara's own play, The Cafe Latte Kid, precocious teenager Placid Lake (Ben Lee) finishes high school and decides to annoy his selfish new-age parents by becoming their complete opposite. He starts wearing cheap suits and embarks on a path towards a career in insurance, despite his friend Gemma (Rose Byrne) trying to talk him out of it.
Angel Baby
In this 1995 drama, which won 7 AFI awards, two psychologically disturbed people (John Lynch, Jacqueline McKenzie) meet at a treatment center and fall passionately in love. Despite the misgivings of psychologists and family, they decide to set up house together. Distinguished by absolutely stunning performances from the two leads, this devastating love story focuses on people marginalised by society.
Idiot Box
A pair of jobless mates (Ben Mendelsohn and Jeremy Sims), who live in the western suburbs of Sydney and spend their days watching the box, get the notion that they can alleviate their boredom by planning and executing a bank robbery, thanks to their experience of watching the fictional ones on telly. "The most completely successful Australian film since the very different Shine," according to David Stratton, who gave it five stars on The Movie Show in 1998.
Dimboola
An English journalist spends a wild weekend in the small Australian country town of Dimboola, preparing for the wedding of two locals, with a bride's tea and a shearing shed bucks’ party. Mayhem ensues with plenty of booze, fist fights, incriminating stripper photographs and possible incest in this uniquely Australian comedy. Directed by John Duigan and stars Max Gillies, Bruce Spence and Natalie Bate.
Erskineville Kings
Barky, a 25 year old lost soul, returns to Sydney after two years living in the northern sugar cane growing areas, to attend his father's funeral and reunite with his estranged brother (Hugh Jackman) as he comes across ghosts from his past. Directed by Alan White and stars Marty Denniss and Hugh Jackman.
The Last Days of Chez Nous
This post-feminist drama explores the lives of three women of different ages living under one roof. Beth is living with her second husband JP and teenage daughter Annie. Her younger sister returns pregnant after an affair in Italy and moves in, facing abortion. Her presence has an immediate effect on JP, causing relationships in the household to shift. Directed by Gillian Armstrong and stars Lisa Harrow, Bruno Ganz and Miranda Otto. * SBS doesn't charge access fees for its SBS On Demand service. ISP and data charges may apply for individual users.
