“You couldn’t make it up.” Some of the best stories told on the silver screen are based on true stories, from the purely autobiographical like Ali or What’s Love Got to Do With It to movies loosely based on real events like Saving Private Ryan or Catch Me If You Can.
When it comes to Australian cinema, the movies tend to tell stories that stick in your mind long after the credits roll. You might be surprised to find out just how many of the top Australian box office hits are based on reality.
Rabbit Proof Fence explores Australia’s dark history
Every nation has parts of its history that it would like to forget but has a duty to remember. In Australia, it was the “lost generations” of the early 20th century, when children were legally removed from Aboriginal communities and placed into camps.
The film follows the tribulations of two such girls in 1931. After weeks of mistreatment, they escape the camp and embark on a nine-week trek through the outback, with only the rabbit-proof state fence to guide them.
The movie stirred plenty of controversy in Australia, with government representatives claiming the historical policy was not accurately reflected. However, most viewers praised the filmmakers for forcing the silence to be broken on this chapter of history.
Gallipoli is a timely reminder of the futility of war
Lest we forget is a phrase you will see on every war memorial. Peter Weir’s 1981 war film serves a similar purpose and should be compulsory viewing. It follows three young men from Western Australia, one of whom is played by Mel Gibson in one of his first major roles, as they enlist for the army and are sent to their fate at Suvla Bay.
The attention to detail, both in reflecting the Australia of the 1910s and the hell of the battlefields in Turkey is as breathtaking today as it was when the film came out more than 40 years ago. Back then, the last few survivors from Gallipoli were still around. The movie serves as a bridge, connecting us to those terrible times.
Broke is a tale of gambling that is as relevant now as it ever was
Australians have a passion for gambling. More than 80 percent of Australians place a bet from time to time, most commonly on pokies and topaustraliangambling.com’s curated list of online pokies can help them to do so safely and responsibly. That’s the light side to gambling, but there can be a dark side to it too.
Broke is based on the gambling controversy that dogged professional sport in Australia a decade or two ago. Specifically, it looks at how well-intentioned and proud sports professionals can ruin their careers and reputations with one rash decision. Recent events in Aussie soccer show that this issue is as relevant today as ever.
In her skin shows a murder from the victim’s perspective
In March 1999, the disappearance of teenager Rachel Barber gripped the entire nation. 10 years later, Simone North’s critically acclaimed movie shows us what really happened. Much of the movie is told from the victim’s perspective, and the fact that we know from the start that things will end badly doesn’t stop us from hoping that somehow things will work out well.
The story is told with empathy, and does not feel in the least exploitative. That’s doubtless helped by the stellar cast that wanted to be involved. Look out for such luminaries as Guy Pearce, Ruth Bradley and Sam Neil.
