Birth of Australian cinema
Barely a year after the first projections by the Lumière brothers, cinema arrived on Australian territory via local fairgrounds. In 1896, Australia had its first cinema, the Salon Lumière, in Sydney. It was there that the first Australian film, Passengers disembarking from the Brighton Ferry at Manly (1896), was shown to a full house. In the years that followed, operators continued to travel around Australia to capture the lives of the locals, including the Aborigines. As early as 1906, the national cinema marked the seventh art with The Story of the Kelly Gang, directed by Charles Tait. This lost film, of which only a fragment remains, is now considered one of the first feature films in the history of cinema. It tells the story of the bandit Ned Kelly and his notorious gang of criminals, the last bushrangers of Australia.
In the 1910s, Australian film production took off with the founding of the first studios and movie chains, only to suffer an abrupt slowdown caused by World War I. Growing competition from Hollywood in the 1920s also contributed to this decline, a situation that lasted until the Second World War. Despite this, a few studios were created and personalities emerged. Thus, the director Charles Chauvel offered his first role to the Australian actor Errol Flynn in In the wake of the Bounty (1933). The latter will become one of the great Hollywood figures of the interwar period, with classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), which will earn him the title of Australian Casanova. Charles Chauvel was one of the first Australian directors to compete for the Palme d'Or in Cannes, with his film Jedda (1955). The first Australian film in color, this critically acclaimed feature was also the first production to feature Aboriginal actors in the title roles. With its modern themes and movements, Jedda already announces the Australian New Wave of the 1970s, and a renewal in the approaches of national artists. It was also at the same time that the Australian Film Institute was founded, an academy that has been awarding the AACTA or Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, the Australian equivalent of the Oscars, since 1958.
Australian New Wave and contemporary filmmakers
After a new slump in the 1960s, Australian cinema is reborn through young, committed filmmakers and large international productions. The policies initiated by the State and the Australian Film Commission are not foreign to this, and we see many productions of various qualities flourish. Ozploitation, a low-cost horror sub-genre based on Australian culture, is one of the main trends of this new wave. In 1975, Australian cinema went beyond the country's borders with Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock, a disturbing film that skillfully blended suspense, horror and fantasy to create a unique atmosphere. It was also during the 1970s that George Miller directed - with very little money - the film Mad Max (1979), which has become a cult classic and has spawned three memorable sequels. Finally, let's also mention the filmmaker Gillian Armstrong, whose fame grew internationally with My Brilliant Career (1979), an adaptation of a novel by the Australian writer Miles Franklin. This "golden age" of national cinema continued in the 1980s with new period dramas, other literary adaptations, but especially the first Crocodile Dundee. Directed in 1986 by the then little-known television producer Peter Faiman, the film was an instant hit in Australia, before conquering the American and then the world box office. For the first time, Australian cinema was exported on a large scale, and the public rushed to theaters to discover the crocodile hunter played by Paul Hogan. Two sequels were made, but without repeating the success of the first part. At the turn of the century, other films of various kinds continued to put Australia at the forefront of the international scene. Babe (1995), directed by George Miller, was very successful, while films such as Scott Hicks' Shine (1996) and Baz Luhrmann's Ballroom Dancing (1992) revealed new talent.
Since the 2000s, and with a few exceptions, it is clear that Australian cinema is once again suffering from the influence of its American counterpart. Filmmakers and stars alike are moving to Hollywood to pursue their careers, and local productions are increasingly becoming international co-productions. However, major studios have established branches in Australia, and you may recognize Australian landscapes in Matrix or Star Wars. A few notable films do stand out, however, such as Baz Luhrmann's Australia (2008), a drama starring two of Australia's leading lights, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Stars of the small and big screen
You probably know more Australian film stars than you think. Since the handsome Errol Flynn, many actresses and actors have embarked on the Hollywood adventure and seen their careers take off far from their native land, while others have achieved fame through legendary figures. Such is the case of George Lazenby, chosen to play James Bond after Sean Connery in Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). His success was short-lived, however, as he refused to sign on for a second episode of the series, and his career remained static despite the interest of critics and fans alike.
Paul Hogan, catapulted to international stardom by Crocodile Dundee, also played a leading role in Flipper (1996), alongside a young Elijah Wood (the future Frodo in the Lord of the Rings saga). At the same time, Nicole Kidman began to make a name for herself with productions such as BMX Bandits (1983) and Calme Blanc (1989). She then moved to the U.S. to star in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and a host of other public and critical successes. On the small screen, it was recently with the series Big Little Lies (2017) and Expats (2024) that Kidman proved her still-intact talent, while also starring with Jane Campion in Top of the Lake: China Girl (2017). Another major female figure in Australian cinema is Toni Collette, who stars in classics such as Little Miss Sunshine (2006), while maintaining an active career with numerous supporting roles. She has returned to the limelight with hits like Heredity (2018), or the series Unbelievable (2019). Another great Australian actress is Cate Blanchett, who made her name with Elizabeth in 1998, before going on to enjoy the international career she is known for with films such as The Lord of the Rings (2001), The Aviator (2006), Blue Jasmine (2013) and Nightmare Alley (2021). Margot Robbie, born in Queensland, has become a household name since Barbie (2023), but she already had a fine filmography, including Babylon (2022) and Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019).
As for the actors, Hugh Jackman is perhaps the most famous, and has been since the X-Men saga. The actor also showed his range with impressive performances in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige (2006) and The Greatest Showman (2017). A film that reflects the actor's love of Broadway, a love he also shares with talent in Les Misérables (2012), where he plays Jean Valjean. Today, other actors such as Chris Hemsworth(Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also the little-known Rush, in which he bluffly plays F1 driver James Hunt) are pursuing their careers in Hollywood, after their Australian beginnings. Heath Ledger, who tragically passed away in 2008, was also part of this golden generation. An actor who made a name for himself with such hits as The Secret of Brokeback Mountain (2005), and his terrifying portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), which won him a posthumous Oscar.
Some Australian filming locations not to be missed
As you travel around Australia, you'll unknowingly discover the filming locations of many of the above-mentioned films, as well as other surprising productions. For example, you can immerse yourself in the rural atmosphere of Babe by visiting Robertson Shire, south of Sydney. It's an atmosphere reminiscent of the English countryside, which the film skilfully brings to life. You can also find Sydney's Opera House in Guillermo Del Toro's fantasy film Pacific Rim (2013), where it is wiped out in a matter of moments by a gigantic monster. And if that's not your thing, head to Manly to visit the International College of Management, the prestigious building used as a party venue in Gatsby the Magnificent (2013). Take time to explore the area around the Great Barrier Reef, where Sam Neill and Nicole Kidman sail in White Calm, when they pick up a strange passenger. As you head towards the center of the country, you may come across the jagged hills of Broken Hill, filming locations for Mad Max II, or turn north and discover the vast expanses of Tamborine National Park, where Chris Hemsworth appears alongside Tom Hiddleston and Cate Blanchett in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). Finally, and to round off your trip, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Crocodile Dundee in Kakadu National Park. Beware of curious saurians, though, or your cinephile journey may come to an end sooner than expected.
