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BOOK CLUB: THE DROVER’S WIFE (SHORT) & THE DROVER’S WIFE: THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON + Discussion
BOOK CLUB AT THE NFSA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CANBERRA WRITERS FESTIVAL
Sun
20
Sun 20 Oct 1:00 PM
Arc Cinema
Allocated Seating
125 Mins | Book Club
October
1984 | 17 mins | 16mm | AUS | D: Sue Brooks
2021 | 108 mins | DCP | AUS | D: Leah Purcell
Published in 1892, The Drover’s Wife is a portrait of isolation in the Australian outback, penned by one of Australia’s most well-known authors. Henry Lawson’s short story has since been extensively adapted, critiqued and reinterpreted, from visual arts to the screen.
Created as part of her studies at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Sue Brooks’ short film uses the myth of the drover's wife to explore the portrayal of women – or lack thereof – in Australia’s cultural history. Brooks’ film is based on Murray Bail’s short story adaptation of The Drover’s Wife, and draws on the Russell Drysdale painting of the same name.
Meanwhile, writer/director and creative powerhouse Leah Purcell offers her own reimagining in the feature film The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson. Purcell also stars as the titular Molly, a heavily pregnant woman pushed to her limits and isolated in the remote high country of colonial New South Wales. Originally adapted for the stage, Purcell’s interpretation invites contemporary audiences to see Lawson’s classic story through First Nations and feminist lenses.
‘…a powerful, and still quite rare, view on the fraught founding of contemporary Australia as told from a woman’s perspective, by a woman filmmaker’ – TimeOut
Sue Brooks’ short film The Drover’s Wife is presented on 16mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
The screening will be followed by a discussion of the films and Henry Lawson’s short story The Drover’s Wife.
A discounted season pass is available for the Book Club at the NFSA program. Learn more
2021 | 108 mins | DCP | AUS | D: Leah Purcell
Published in 1892, The Drover’s Wife is a portrait of isolation in the Australian outback, penned by one of Australia’s most well-known authors. Henry Lawson’s short story has since been extensively adapted, critiqued and reinterpreted, from visual arts to the screen.
Created as part of her studies at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Sue Brooks’ short film uses the myth of the drover's wife to explore the portrayal of women – or lack thereof – in Australia’s cultural history. Brooks’ film is based on Murray Bail’s short story adaptation of The Drover’s Wife, and draws on the Russell Drysdale painting of the same name.
Meanwhile, writer/director and creative powerhouse Leah Purcell offers her own reimagining in the feature film The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson. Purcell also stars as the titular Molly, a heavily pregnant woman pushed to her limits and isolated in the remote high country of colonial New South Wales. Originally adapted for the stage, Purcell’s interpretation invites contemporary audiences to see Lawson’s classic story through First Nations and feminist lenses.
‘…a powerful, and still quite rare, view on the fraught founding of contemporary Australia as told from a woman’s perspective, by a woman filmmaker’ – TimeOut
Sue Brooks’ short film The Drover’s Wife is presented on 16mm film prints from the NFSA collection.
The screening will be followed by a discussion of the films and Henry Lawson’s short story The Drover’s Wife.
A discounted season pass is available for the Book Club at the NFSA program. Learn more
October