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Australian New Wave

Movement in Australian cinema that emerged in the 1970s

Movement in Australian cinema that emerged in the 1970s

The Australian New Wave (also known as the Australian Film Revival, Australian Film Renaissance, or New Australian Cinema) was an era of resurgence in the worldwide popularity of the Australian cinema, particularly in the United States. It began in the early 1970s and lasted until the mid-late 1980s. The era also marked the emergence of Ozploitation, a film genre characterised by the exploitation of colloquial Australian culture.

Background

The Australian film industry declined after World War II, coming to a virtual stop by the early 1960s. The Gorton (1968–71) and Whitlam governments (1972–75) intervened and rescued the industry from its expected oblivion. The federal and several state governments established bodies to assist with the funding of film production and the training of film makers through the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, which fostered a new generation of Australian filmmakers who were able to bring their visions to the screen. The 1970s saw a huge renaissance of the Australian film industry. Australia produced nearly 400 films between 1970 and 1985, more than had been made in the history of the Australian film industry.

In contrast to pre-New Wave films, New Wave films are often viewed as fresh and creative, possessing "a vitality, a love of open spaces and a propensity for sudden violence and languorous sexuality". The "straight-ahead narrative style" of many Australian New Wave films reminded American audiences of "the Hollywood-maverick period of the late 1960s and early '70s that had just about run its course".

Film critic Stephen Farber said of the appeal of the New Wave of Australian films to American audiences in 1980:

Unlike many of the acclaimed German films of recent years, these Australian movies are accessible and entertaining, as well as searching and innovative. Audiences who are tired of the formula fare from the Hollywood studios and the more impenetrable art films from Europe will find a breath of new life in these films from down under.

Notable films

1970s

  • Stork (1971)
  • Walkabout (1971)
  • Wake in Fright (1971)
  • The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972)
  • Night of Fear (1972)
  • Alvin Purple (1973)
  • The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
  • Stone (1974)
  • The Man from Hong Kong (1975)
  • Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
  • Sunday Too Far Away (1975)
  • Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
  • Caddie (1976)
  • The Devil's Playground (1976)
  • Don's Party (1976)
  • Fantasm (1976)
  • Deathcheaters (1976)
  • Storm Boy (1976)
  • Fantasm Comes Again (1977)
  • The Last Wave (1977)
  • Summerfield (1977)
  • The Getting of Wisdom (1977)
  • Patrick (1978)
  • The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)
  • Long Weekend (1978)
  • Money Movers (1978)
  • Newsfront (1978)
  • Mad Max (1979)
  • My Brilliant Career (1979)
  • Snapshot (1979)
  • The Odd Angry Shot (1979)
  • Thirst (1979)
  • The Plumber (1979)

1980s

  • Breaker Morant (1980)
  • The Club (1980)
  • The Chain Reaction (1980)
  • Manganinnie (1980)
  • Harlequin (1980)
  • Gallipoli (1981)
  • Mad Max 2 (1981)
  • Puberty Blues (1981)
  • Roadgames (1981)
  • Attack Force Z (1982)
  • The Man from Snowy River (1982)
  • Next of Kin (1982)
  • Starstruck (1982)
  • The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
  • Heatwave (1982)
  • BMX Bandits (1983)
  • Razorback (1984)
  • Bliss (1985)
  • Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
  • Crocodile Dundee (1986)
  • Malcolm (1986)
  • Dead-End Drive In (1986)
  • The Year My Voice Broke (1987)
  • The Lighthorsemen (1987)
  • Crocodile Dundee II (1988)
  • Young Einstein (1988)
  • Dead Calm (1989)

Notable figures

Many filmmakers and actors launched international careers through their work in the Australian New Wave. File:Mel Gibson Cannes 2016 3.jpg|Mel Gibson File:Nicole Kidman Cannes 2017 2.jpg|Nicole Kidman File:Sam Neill 2010.jpg|Sam Neill File:George Miller Cannes 2015.jpg|George Miller File:PeterWeirApr2011.jpg|Peter Weir

Directors

  • Gillian Armstrong
  • Henri Safran
  • Bruce Beresford
  • Tim Burstall
  • John Duigan
  • Richard Franklin
  • Ken Hannam
  • George Miller
  • Russell Mulcahy
  • Phillip Noyce
  • Fred Schepisi
  • Brian Trenchard-Smith
  • Peter Weir
  • Simon Wincer

Actors

  • Elizabeth Alexander
  • David Argue
  • Ray Barrett
  • Pat Bishop
  • Steve Bisley
  • Graeme Blundell
  • Bryan Brown
  • Tom Burlinson
  • Terry Camilleri
  • Chantal Contouri
  • Barry Crocker
  • Max Cullen
  • Judy Davis
  • Mercia Deane-Johns
  • Jeanie Drynan
  • Carmen Duncan
  • Mel Gibson
  • David Gulpilil
  • John Hargreaves
  • Paul Hogan
  • Harold Hopkins
  • Wendy Hughes
  • Barry Humphries
  • Bill Hunter
  • John Jarratt
  • Hugh Keays-Byrne
  • Bill Kerr
  • Nicole Kidman
  • John Meillon
  • Sam Neill
  • Angela Punch McGregor
  • Bruce Spence
  • Nick Tate
  • Noah Taylor
  • Jack Thompson
  • Sigrid Thornton
  • Roger Ward
  • Jacki Weaver
  • Vernon Wells

Others

  • Russell Boyd (cinematographer)
  • John Seale (cinematographer)
  • Dean Semler (cinematographer)
  • Donald McAlpine (cinematographer)
  • Brian May (composer)
  • Bruce Smeaton (composer)

Legacy

In 2008, Empire magazine chose Mad Max 2 and The Year of Living Dangerously as two of the 500 Greatest Movies of All Time, ranking in at #280 and #161 respectively. The 2011 book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die features Walkabout, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, My Brilliant Career, Mad Max and Gallipoli (winner of multiple AACTA Awards). Since its re-release in 2009, Wake in Fright has been assessed as one of, if not the greatest, Australian New Wave film.

The term "glitter cycle" refers to a subgenre of eccentric Australian comedies that came to prominence in the early 1990s, spurring a post-new wave revival of Australian film. These films are noted for their celebration of Australian popular culture, camp aesthetic, colourful makeup and costuming, and musical performance pieces. Prominent glitter films include Strictly Ballroom (1992), Muriel's Wedding (1994), The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) and Love Serenade (1996). Other prominent post-new wave revival films of the 1990s include The Big Steal (1990), Proof (1991), Romper Stomper (1992), Babe (1995), Shine (1996), Kiss or Kill (1997), and The Castle (1997).

In 2008, director Mark Hartley released Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!, a documentary film celebrating the romps of the Australian New Wave of 1970s and 1980s low-budget cinema and includes George Miller, Quentin Tarantino and Barry Humphries.

Media theorist Theodore Scheckles argues that the post-1970 period of Australian cinema attempted to "revise the traditional Australian hero and problematize that revision" asserting the best films of this era will be viewed "as films, not as pieces of Australiana". Likewise Michael Walsh argues that the period represents not an "over nationalist" period of Australian cinema, but an adaptation of Australian cultural tropes, culture and history to an American mass market.

References

References

  1. "Film in Australia".
  2. [[Wendy Lewis]], Simon Balderstone and John Bowan. (2006). "Events That Shaped Australia". New Holland.
  3. Hale, Mike. (2013-01-23). "When Australia Soared on Film". The New York Times.
  4. Taylor, Robert. (November 16, 1980). "An upsurge in films from down under". [[Oakland Tribune]].
  5. "The Best Australian New Wave Movies of All Time | Page 4 - Flickchart".
  6. "The Best Australian New Wave Movies of All Time - Flickchart".
  7. [https://www.criterionchannel.com/australian-new-wave Australian New Wave - The Criterion Channel]
  8. Withers, Ned Athol. (21 December 2015). "The 10 Best Films of The Australian New Wave".
  9. "The Best Australian New Wave Movies of All Time".
  10. "The Best Australian New Wave Movies of All Time | Page 3 - Flickchart".
  11. (8 August 2016). "Movie movements that defined cinema: the Australian New Wave".
  12. David Stratton, ''The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival'', Angus & Robertson, 1980 p253
  13. Withers, Ned Athol. (21 December 2015). "The 10 Best Films of The Australian New Wave".
  14. Nette, Andrew. (17 April 2020). "10 great Australian New Wave films".
  15. (21 February 2019). "The Best Australian New Wave Films".
  16. Craven, Ian. (12 October 2012). "Australian Cinema in the 1990s". Routledge.
  17. "Australian New Wave Movies".
  18. (3 Oct 2008). "The 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time".
  19. (18 November 2006). "Gallipoli AFI awards highlights 1981 by Mickeyjuice on YouTube".
  20. Schneider, Steven Jay. ''[[1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die]]''. [[London]]: Quintessence Editions Ltd.. {{ISBN. 1844036979
  21. Buckmaster, Luke. (2014-02-14). "Wake in Fright: rewatching classic Australian films". The Guardian.
  22. Cave, Nick. "Wake In Fright (brand-new 35mm print!)".
  23. Gibson, Anthony. (2013-01-18). "Lawless director John Hillcoat picks his favourite movie nightmares".
  24. (26 August 2008). "Don't Let Them Drag You Down: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by Philip Brophy".
  25. Curnow, James. (8 June 2013). "Ozploitation: Twelve Australian exploitation classics".
  26. (30 July 2009). "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story Of OZploitation!".
  27. Sheckels, Theodore F.. (1998). ""New Wave" Cinema's Redefinition of Australian Heroism". Antipodes.
  28. Walsh, Michael. (2000). "Building a New Wave: Australian Films and the American Market". Film Criticism.
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