Gillian Armstrong
As notions of civil rights transformed across the world, so was the screen landscape reformed by the ascension of grassroots film movements seeking to challenge the mainstream. Some aspired to push form to its limit; others worked to destabilise what they saw as a homogenous industry, or to provoke questions around gender, sexuality, migration and race.
The epic life story of Alice Guy-Blaché (1873–1968), a French screenwriter, director and producer, true pioneer of cinema, the first person who made a narrative fiction film; author of hundreds of movies, but banished from history books. Ignored and forgotten. At last remembered.
Hollywood stars, historical footage and stylized reenactments tell the story of costume designer Orry-Kelly, who ruled Tinseltown fashion for decades.
The fifth film in the documentary series about the lives, hopes and dreams of three lively, working class Adelaide girls since they were fourteen in 1976.
On a tour of Britain in 1926, Harry Houdini enters into a passionate affair with a psychic out to con the famous magician.
A Colourful Life is a Docu/Drama based on the colourful life of flamboyant design pioneer Florence Broadhurst.
A documentary about the making of Gillian Armstrong's 1982 film STARSTRUCK.
This is a drama set in Nazi-occupied France at the height of World War II. Charlotte Gray tells the compelling story of a young Scottish woman working with the French Resistance in the hope of rescuing her lover, a missing RAF pilot. Based on the best-selling novel by Sebastian Faulks.
After a childhood of abuse by his evangelistic father, misfit Oscar Hopkins becomes an Anglican minister and develops a divine obsession with gambling. Lucinda Leplastrier is a rich Australian heiress shopping in London for materials for her newly acquired glass factory back home. Deciding to travel to Australia as a missionary, Oscar meets Lucinda aboard ship, and a mutual obsession blossoms. They make a wager that will alter each of their destinies.
An exploration of the hopes and expectations of three working class women from Adelaide, and the differences and similarities they share with their daughters.
With their father away as a chaplain in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, male friends start to become a part of the household.
The story of sisters Vicki and Beth, when Vicki begins an affair with Beth's intriguing French husband.
A Cuban emigre, living in Miami and involved in an affair with the American seaman who rescued her and her daughter years earlier, must face her husband after he is unexpectedly released from a Cuban prison.
The third film in a documentary series from acclaimed director Gillian Armstrong, about the lives of three working class women. as they grow up from the age of 14. They're now at the ripe old age of 26, and we witness the women confronting the very real issues of teenage pregnancy, and love versus sex, marriage and career.
Admired as one of the best lyricists of pop rock, Bob Dylan has his name recorded in music history. During his four decades career, he has been through many facets: from acoustic to electric guitar; from politicized to religious lyrics; from minimalist to very highly sophisticated arrangements. And his characteristic voice, for some, hoarse and full of style, for others a little out of tune, still influences many musicians. In this presentation filmed at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Australia over February 24-25 1986, Dylan is accompanied by Tom Petty and the band The Heartbreakers, as well as a very fine selection of new compositions. To close the spectacle, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty perform a vocal duet in "Knockin' on heaven's door", one of the most famous songs of this compositor.
A new-wave extravaganza in which a young woman wants to become the next big singer with the help of her friends and despite the wishes of her working class family.
Profile on three young Adelaide women. Diana, Kerry and Josie are now 18 years old, and continue to have open and frank discussions about their lives.
About five men who live in Tasmania and earn their living by working with wood. David Ralph makes small souvenir animals and furniture from horizontal wood; Kevin Perkins makes furniture which allows the natural shape of the wood to be shown; Merv Gray and Peter Mevre make bowls and spheres, and Peter Taylor sculptural pieces.
A young woman who is determined to maintain her independence finds herself at odds with her family who wants her to tame her wild side and get married.
An older woman does not speak to her daughter and detests everything about her. The only solace is with her regular visits to the doctor who drops her off along the road to spend her day in the countryside alone. One day at her favorite place in the country the older lady meets a young girl who is having relationship problems with her boyfriend, and they share their bitter memories. These meetings become regular therapeutic sessions. - Written by Archie Moore
Antigone arrives in Sydney from Greece to have an arranged marriage with Telis, but is rejected by him as he expected a younger woman. Telis's older brother, Manolis, sympathizes with Antigone.
The first film in a Seven Up-like series examining the lives of three teenage girls in South Australia during the 1970s. It looks at issues such as boys and sex, abortion, marriage, pregnancy, career paths, and education.
Student film directed by Phillip Noycs, and shot by Tom Cowan. A three-person family (and a cat) gets stuck living in a caravan park after their car breaks down on the way to back to Brisbane.
A short observational account of one Saturday night in the mundane life of Stuart. He gets drunk, goes out to clubs,, searches for love and falls asleep unfulfilled on the floor of the club.
In this highly acclaimed short by the director of 'My Brilliant Career' (1979) and 'Oscar and Lucinda' (1997), a young girl is forced to continue working at her machine all day in a 1930s shoe factory after a visit to a backyard abortionist. Cast features Rosalie Fletcher, Eve Wynne, Jenee Walsh, Beth Child, Virginia Partingale, Sue Piggott. Based on the short story 'How beautiful are thy feet' by Alan Marshall.
A series of surreal short scenes portraying a suburban family and their everyday rituals.
