THE LAST WAVE (1977: Dir: Peter Weir)
Mysticism is often scoffed at by a generally literal-minded public. Australian director Peter Weir was one of the first major Anglophone filmmakers to embrace it as a means to comment upon contemporary Western society. Beginning with Picnic at Hanging Rock, and followed by The Last Wave, Weir explored his sober belief in unexplained phenomena, resulting in a pair of financially successful and genuinely unsettling cinematic exercises that helped give international credibility and recognition to the nascent Australian film industry. The story tells of lawyer Richard Chamberlain, who, while defending an Aboriginal tribesman in a murder case, experiences mysterious and disorienting visions that lead him to a lost underground city hidden beneath contemporary Sydney. Much to his credit, Weir portrays native magic with admirable gravitas, utilizing authentic cultural instruments like the didgeridoo to create disquieting sound effects that are enhanced by cinematographer Russell Boyd's masterfully moody lighting, creating a disturbing sense of dread. Ultimately the film is a testament to Weir's unerring craftsmanship, confidently communicating to a naive audience the Aboriginal concept of "dreamtime", part of an animist mythology which includes the ability of the unconscious mind to relay Jungian archetypes across ancient and modern cultures. Prepare yourself for an enlightening excursion beyond the veil of perception. DVD REGION 1 & 2
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