Margaret Nelson - Sara
Karen Robson - Irma
Jacki Weaver - Minnie
Peter Weir (Director)
Peter Weir has a style. That is undeniable. While watching Picnic at Hanging Rock I instantly started thinking about other films in that Weir style. Of course the first thing to come to mind was another Weir film that I recently reviewed, Fearless (Movie #101). But then it stuck me. Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko I think was heavily inspired by the films of Mr Weir if not Hanging Rock in particular.
The dark ominous sound-scape, the hints of mysticism, the lucid camera work, the transgressive nature of the story. It's all there in both films. As I watched more of the movie even more films came to mind. I reviewed Suspira (Movie #82) a couple of months ago. Both of these movies conduct similar use of music and tone. Both audible and visual tone. I of course can't say that Argento was inspired by Hanging Rock, but it would be a great coincidence to see such similar shots and sounds in two films made only a few years apart. The biggest difference is that Hanging Rock is a good movie!
The story behind Hanging Rock is one of a boarding school in Australia for girls. They are being raised in a very prim and proper way. This is the most British film I have ever seen made in and about Australia. One day the class goes on a field trip to Hanging Rock. Four students go off exploring and only 1 returns. A teacher goes looking for the missing girls and she doesn't return. The rest of the movie is a bout the impact this has on the school and the town near the tourist attraction.
Weir creates a supernatural melodrama with hanging rock. His uses sounds and rumblings along with 360 degree camera movements to confuse and get his viewers as lost as the girls in the story. But it is more than that. He uses the fear of the unknown (both Hanging Rock and Australia as a whole) to and imply that perhaps there is something going on that is spiritual and maybe even sinister. When the music evolves from a deep bass grumble, Zamphir and his pan flute is heard. The pan flute has been used in many films to evoke a sense of the paranormal.
The performances are all good in the movie. I enjoyed seeing Jacki Weaver in another film besides Animal Kingdom (Movie #18). She is good in the role, but not used much. The children actors are all sound and the head of the school is near sadistic. She reminded me a lot of Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest. I will throw out one more cinematic similarity. Lars Von Trier's Anti-Christ has a lot of nature scenes that reminded me a lot of this film. I think might have been lifted right off the screen.
Overall I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It is a little meandering and I can only watch Brit's for so long, but the end result is clearly a very inspirational movie that left me both entertained and engaged. I give Picnic at Hanging Rock ★★★★. This movie is available on Netfilx Watch Instant and on Blu Ray through The Criterion Collection. Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.
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