Thursday, January 04, 2007
PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK
One of the greatest movies I've ever seen is nearly forgotten and little known by most Americans. Even when it first came out, it lasted a week at a local theater and then disappeared. I'm not even sure how or why I chanced to go see it -- probably a string of extraordinary circamstances or events, because that's par for this movie.
The director came out without another movie (also great), then eventually wound up in Hollywood where he went on to make some good movies and some that probably aren't as good -- but none to equal this one for brilliance, depth of feeling and originality. Although the THE TRUMAN SHOW had some of the same themes, it just wasn't as fascinating.
I'm referring to PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, a quite bizarre story about a few schoolgirls who disappeared in the region of Hanging Rock in Australia at the turn of the century. It's based on a book telling the story, but it's apparently a book of fiction that seems nonfictional. I don't think the disappearance actually happened, although who really cares.
The theme of the movie is overstated by its principal character, Miranda, one of the school girls who disappears, at the beginning of the movie and the early morning of her disappearance (ascension into Heaven, actually), "All we are is but a dream, a dream within a dream." A quote from Edgar Allan Poe.
It's an eerie, bizarre movie and certainly not for everyone. If you want something physical happening all the time, this is not for you. The entire film seems like a peculiar dream itself, and at the end nothing is really resolved. Even when one of the girls returns, nobody can figure out why, least of all her.
If PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK sounds interesting, rent the DVD (I assume it's available) and watch it sometime alone or only with someone else who will just let you get into the movie. No kids, no pets, no cell phones, no interruptions -- watch the film straight through. It'll be an experience you won't forget.
And then watch the other one that's a little more accessible to ordinary audiences, THE LAST WAVE.
The director came out without another movie (also great), then eventually wound up in Hollywood where he went on to make some good movies and some that probably aren't as good -- but none to equal this one for brilliance, depth of feeling and originality. Although the THE TRUMAN SHOW had some of the same themes, it just wasn't as fascinating.
I'm referring to PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK, a quite bizarre story about a few schoolgirls who disappeared in the region of Hanging Rock in Australia at the turn of the century. It's based on a book telling the story, but it's apparently a book of fiction that seems nonfictional. I don't think the disappearance actually happened, although who really cares.
The theme of the movie is overstated by its principal character, Miranda, one of the school girls who disappears, at the beginning of the movie and the early morning of her disappearance (ascension into Heaven, actually), "All we are is but a dream, a dream within a dream." A quote from Edgar Allan Poe.
It's an eerie, bizarre movie and certainly not for everyone. If you want something physical happening all the time, this is not for you. The entire film seems like a peculiar dream itself, and at the end nothing is really resolved. Even when one of the girls returns, nobody can figure out why, least of all her.
If PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK sounds interesting, rent the DVD (I assume it's available) and watch it sometime alone or only with someone else who will just let you get into the movie. No kids, no pets, no cell phones, no interruptions -- watch the film straight through. It'll be an experience you won't forget.
And then watch the other one that's a little more accessible to ordinary audiences, THE LAST WAVE.
