The Rise Of The Australian Film Empire

‘Jedda’, The Hungry Miles’,’ Shine’ ,’My Cornerstone’ and the list goes on. What is the list about? Well all these films are Australian Films which are classics. 

The Australian Film Industry is a century old, in fact, will turn 110 years old in 2016. The first film in Australia was produced by Tait brothers and was called,’ The Story of the Kelly Gang’. This movie succeeded in Australian and British theatres, both. The story marked the beginning of the era of bushranger stories. 

The Australian Film Industry suffered a decline from 1920 onwards, which almost continued for approximately 20 years, that is, till 1940 when the well known CineSound Studios produced a number of documentaries, newsreels and a very famous series of films based on Steele Rudd’s Dad and Dave characters. The proud moment for Australia came with its first prestigious Academy Award for a documentary called, ’ Kokoda Front line’ by Cinesound in 1943.

The next decade marked the entry of Australian Films into the well known Film Festivals abroad where ‘Jedda’, a Charles Chauvel film in 1955, was screened at The Cannes Film Festival. Another movie, ‘The Hungry Miles’, made by The Waterside Worker’s Federation Film Unit in Sydney in 1955, depicted the working conditions  on the Wharves in Sydney and struggles endured by the wharfies. The Film also went on to win an award at the Warsaw Youth Festival in 1957.

The intervention of the Gorton and Whitlam Government in 1970’s proved to be a real saviour for the film industry with the formation of funding bodies and establishment of Australian Film Television and Radio School.  Actors like Judy Davis, Sam Neil, Mel Gibson, and Nicole Kidman became international stars and directors like Phil Noyce and Peter Weir were able to showcase their magic on the big screen.

Also classic scenes from the yesteryear films are accessible on Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive website, ‘Australian Screen’.  Australian Film Industry has always been vibrant and hence the curiosity of the film lovers for the film ‘My cornerstone’ is understood. The film is produced by WPA, World pictures Australia, and is directed by Stanley Joseph. James Morcan is the surprise element of the film while Zenia Starr is the leading lady.

The film is based on the story of a beautiful Indian nurse who applies for a healthcare position in Australia and finds herself placed in the household of the Pintos, a wealthy Indian-Australian family.

The story unfolds inside the Pinto’s household where the nurse is treated as a slave and when her past begins to haunt her present. To add to it, the Pinto household reaches a breaking point when Eli, the eligible bachelor in the Pinto family, is in love with the Indian nurse.  Chris the next door neighbour brings in the surprise element with him keeping the suspense alive. Who is he? 

Watch it onscreen!!!