About Picnic at Hanging Rock

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" is a 1975 Australian mystery drama film directed by Peter Weir. The film is adapted from the 1967 novel of the same name, written by Joan Lindsay. The story is a fictional account of a group of female students from an Australian girls' boarding school that disappear during a picnic at Hanging Rock. The film explores the impacts and ripple effects their disappearance has on the local community.

As the story unfolds, the narrative dives into the circumstances that led to the girls' disappearance, the subsequent search, and theories that consume the local community. The film blurs the line between reality and dream, creating an evolving sense of suspense and unease.

Making / Production

This iconic film was one of the productions that signified the revival of Australian cinema during the 1970s, often referred to as the Australian New Wave. The film was shot on location at Hanging Rock, a distinctive geological formation in central Victoria, Australia. Its eerie aura and natural beauty provide a crucial backdrop for the movie's themes.

Actors

• Rachel Roberts as Mrs. Appleyard: Roberts delivers a searing performance as the stern headmistress whose authority is tested by the unfolding incidents.
• Vivean Gray as Miss McCraw: Gray skilfully portrays the mathematics teacher who also mysteriously disappears during the fateful picnic.
• Helen Morse as Mlle. de Poitiers: Morse excels in her role as the French teacher who is well-regarded by her students, adding another layer of complexity to the school environment.
• Anne-Louise Lambert as Miranda: Lambert beautifully encapsulates the angelic and charismatic student who is central to the mystery of the story.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The production design was based on Victorian-era photography to achieve the film's unique visual style.
• Although the story is entirely fictional, many viewers mistakenly believed it was based on true events.
• The original novel's author, Joan Lindsay, refused ever to clarify whether the story was based on real happenings or was purely a work of fiction.

Awards

"Picnic at Hanging Rock" received numerous accolades, including the Critics Award at the Melbourne Film Festival, the Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Screenplay at the Australian Film Institute Awards, and was also nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.

Quotes

• "Everything begins and ends at the exactly right time and place." – Miranda (Anne-Louise Lambert)
• "Miranda, don't go! Come back!" – Irma (Karen Robson)
• "She always reminds me of a Botticelli angel." – Mam'zelle de Poitiers (Helen Morse) on Miranda

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's soundtrack, composed by Bruce Smeaton, greatly contributes to the mystery and suspenseful atmosphere made prevalent throughout the film.
• The signature pan flute music, which may initially strike as distinctly non-Australian, effectively adds an extra layer of detachment and intrigue to the film's tone.