Continental Riff: Feature Films from Australia and New Zealand

Once again, the Gallery collaborates with the Atlantic Film Festival in our five o'clock film series, screened daily in the Gallery during the Festival. Ron Foley MacDonald has selected ten less well-known films from "down-under", ranging from bizarre comedy and disturbing documentary to gentle, offbeat drama.

Friday, 13 September - The Cars That Ate Paris

Peter Weir, 1974, 91 minutes

Weir's first film is a bizarre black comedy about an obscure town that lives off of car wrecks. Weir went on to direct Witness and The Dead Poet's Society.

Saturday, 14 September - My Brilliant Career

Gillian Armstrong, 1979, 101 minutes

The film that brought Judy Davis and Sam Neill to the attention of North Americans, My Brilliant Career tells the story of an independent woman (Davis) struggling in turn-of-the-last century rural Australia.

Sunday, 15 September - Dogs in Space

Richard Lowenstein, 1986, 105 minutes

A portrait of the punk scene in Melbourne in 1979, Dogs in Space stars the late Michael Hutchence of the rock group INXS in a furious performance.

Monday, 16 September - Cane Toads: An Unnatural History

Mark Lewis, 1987, 48 minutes

A cult classic documentary about giant poisonous toads imported into Australia to control the cane beetle - with disastrous and hilarious results.

Tuesday, 17 September - Sweetie

Jane Campion, 1989, 97 minutes

The story of an oversized punk-goth girl who just won't grow up or fit in. Campion would go on to direct the international success The Piano.

Wednesday, 18 September - Strictly Ballroom

Baz Luhrman, 1992, 94 minutes

Before Luhrman made Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge, he directed this small-scale but frenetic and sweet story of desperate and very serious ballroom dancers.

Thursday, 19 September - Heavenly Creatures

Peter Jackson, 1994, 99 minutes

Lord of the Rings director, New Zealander Peter Jackson first came to international attention with this strange film about the intense fantasy world of two adolescent girls that eventually leads them to commit murder.

Friday, 20 September - Once Were Warriors

Lee Tamohori, 103 minutes

Maori director Tamohori's debut feature focuses on a Maori family in suburban New Zealand, and the destruction wrought by alcohol and abuse amid cultural loss.

Saturday, 21 September - The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Stephen Elliott, 1994, 102 minutes

Three drag queens go on an absurd cross-country expedition in a flamboyant tour bus named, naturally, Priscilla.

Sunday, 22 September - The Castle

Rod Sitch, 1997, 84 minutes

A white-trash family fights the compulsary purchase of its tumble down home next to an airport. An unexpected domestic hit, The Castle is a sweet, compassionate shaggy dog story with a delightful happy ending.