Picnic At Hanging Rock (A), September 1979

PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (A)  (Australia, 1975: director Peter Wier)

RACHEL ROBERTS, HELEN MORSE, DOMINIC GUARD, JACKI WEAVER.  On St. Valentine’s Day in 1900 a party of schoolgirls went on a picnic to the Australian beauty spot of Hanging Rock: some never returned.  Is the movie fact or fiction?  You must decide (though as the fateful picnic was 70 years ago, and all the characters probably dead long since, it hardly seems important).  But the film, most certainly, is important.  Until quite recently the Australian film industry has not been noted for the quality of its offerings (The Overlanders always excepted); it’s consisted mainly of the chunderings of Barry Mackenzie and bronzed blonde thickies with surf boards.  Now, however, a certain delicacy has crept in between the Australian Foster’s Lager and the Australian Fighting Laeger.  The Picnic movie is hauntingly beautiful (much aided by Gheorghe Zamfir’s evocative  musical score), and the performances are superb.  This one will stay in your mind long after the screen goes dark.  Plus BILL KERR’S WHOOPEE BAND (U). (programme 130 minutes)

Tickets for all performances 70p and £1.00