Movie Reviews Net

One cannot always get a grand sense of a country even when one travels there. The history of a nation and the particular stories bound up in the lives of its inhabitants are not readily apparent in the one- or two-week stints one normally has for vacations. The following films provide a sense of Australia and New Zealand through fictional films and films based on actual facts to give the viewer a greater personal and historical sense of a place and its peoples. Also, the films are simply good and fun to watch.

The Piano, directed by Jane Campion, is set in the wilderness of Victorian-era New Zealand. It stars Holly Hunter who won an Oscar for her marvelous performance of a mute woman who travels to a foreign land with her daughter to marry a man she does not know. A young Anna Paquin also won a supporting Oscar for her portrayal as the woman’s precociously cartwheeling daughter. The piano plays a pivotal role in the machinations of the film’s drama. Beautiful and not to be missed by film connoisseurs.

Rabbit-Proof Fence focuses on the plight of Aboriginal peoples — specifically half-caste children who were removed from their Aboriginal families to be assimilated into the white culture. The film that stars Kenneth Branagh demonstrates strong performances from its young stars — especially from the Everlyn Sampi who plays the eldest girl determined to trek across Australia to return to her home. Based on true events, you will not forget this film once you’ve seen it.

Japanese Story directed by Sue Brooks features actress Toni Collette playing the role of her company’s tour guide to a rich Japanese client. Their subsequent driving tour does not go as planned — but this film is not some comedic misadventure. Instead it is a rich documentation of person and place, of individual culture and universal humanity. It is riveting and will last with the viewer long after the film has been watched.

Gallipoli directed by Peter Weir stars a young Mel Gibson and Mark Lee as fast friends in Australia during World War I. The initial part of the film is set in western Australia and the desert in which the pair become stranded. The latter half of the film sees them enlist in the Australian army, train under the pyramids in Egypt and meet their separate fates in Turkey. This powerful film should not be missed — it is rare to find this part of the Great War on film and the storyline is quite well-written.

Oscar and Lucinda stars Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes in a unique film set in the Australian outback. The captivating scenes are visually stunning and portray a subtle characterization. Gambling and interest in glass provide the catalysts for the plot which is rather thought-provoking in its odd way. See it simply for the glass church—if nothing more; that is a most brilliant touch!

Other must-see Aussie films include The Adventures of Priscilla, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Walkabout. As many of today’s big screen stars hail from Australia, we may see more films from its actors and directors set there.

Let me know what you think of these films, or can recommend any other movies from down under.