Australian Cinema Today

So this far in the class we have watched several of Australia's finest movies from the seventies, eighties and nineties - many of the films which defined Australia's cinema and exposed cultural themes found in no other country.

But what of Australian cinema today?

I'm sure many of us have heard about or even seen the preview of the soon to be released 'Australia', starring both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. The film is directed by Baz Luhrmann of 'Moulin Rouge', 'Romeo + Juliet' and 'Strictly Ballroom' fame - all Australian influenced films which have achieved mainstream success in America. 'Australia' seems to fit the exact same profile as Luhrmann's previous films: it stars Australian born but mainstream Hollywood actors, it is produced by American Hollywood studios and appears to be targeted at American movie goers.

I refuse to believe that 'Australia' will do the nation's cinema much justice; so I set out and searched the internet to see what critically acclaimed yet non-mainstream Australian films have been produced in the last two years. And here are my findings:

The Black Balloon (2008)

Starring 'Muriel's Wedding''s own Toni Collette, 'The Black Balloon' was released just this year and filmed entirely in New South Whales, Australia. It is about a boy trying find a normal adolascence and come to accept his autistic brother. The film received two notable Australian awards and was well regarded by audiences and critics alike.
The Black Balloon

The Jammed (2007)

'The Jammed' is a low budget but multiple award winning independent film that was entirely filmed in Australia. The story follows the lives of a handful of women and their struggle with sex trafficking and deportation in the city of Melbourne. The film was acclaimed for its realism and award winning script.
The Jammed

The Unfinished Sky (2007)

Australian Director Peter Duncan tells the story of an outback farmer who takes in an Afghani woman who has fled from a local brothel. The entirely Australian funded film was nominated for nine awards and praised for its stunning cinematography and portrayal of the outback around Queensland, Australia.

The Unfinished Sky