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ABC News
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Picnic at Hanging Rock is just as unsettling and relevant 50 years on
Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock, released 50 years ago, is remembered for its eerie atmosphere and mysterious story. But beneath its haunting beauty, the film challenges the idea of colonial control over the Australian landscape. The rock becomes a place that refuses to be explained or conquered by European logic. This tension between the land and colonial power still matters today. The failure of the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament shows how divided Australia remains over questions of reconciliation and Indigenous sovereignty. Rewatching Picnic at Hanging Rock in 2025, we can appreciate the film as an unsettling portrayal of place, silence and disappearance. Picnic at Hanging Rock tells the story of a group of private schoolgirls and their teachers who visit the nearby Hanging Rock on Valentine's Day in 1900. During the excursion, three students and one teacher mysteriously disappear. No clear explanation is ever given, which unsettles both the characters and the audience. The mystery triggers hysteria, scandal and a slow collapse of order at Appleyard College. As the search for answers continues, the film refuses to provide resolution, deepening its sense of unease and ambiguity. Based on Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel, the story captured the public imagination with its haunting beauty and unanswered mystery. Audiences were obsessed with whether it was based on true events (it wasn't). The film became a landmark of the Australian New Wave, a 1970s movement that revitalised the national film industry with bold, artistic storytelling and a focus on uniquely Australian themes. With its poetic visuals, haunting score and colonial setting, the film stood out for its mood rather than action. Audiences were both fascinated and frustrated by its lack of closure, and it gained a cult following, especially among viewers drawn to its gothic atmosphere and slow-burning mystery. Ngannelong, also known as Hanging Rock, is a striking volcanic formation north-west of Melbourne. For the Dja Dja Wurrung, Woi Wurrung and Taungurung peoples of the Kulin Nation it is a deeply important cultural and spiritual place. Lindsay and Weir's mystery of white schoolgirls who mysteriously vanish sits on top of older, deeper traumas – those of dispossession and the forced removal of Indigenous people from their lands. While the film appears dreamlike and mystical, Ngannelong's sacredness challenges this romantic view, reminding us that the land holds its own stories and history. It does not forget. Picnic at Hanging Rock can be seen as a powerful story about colonial fear and uncertainty. The unexplained disappearance of the schoolgirls plays off the idea that European thinking and logic can't fully understand or master the Australian landscape. When watched through this lens the story reveals just how fragile colonialism is. The film invites viewers to think differently about Australia's identity, suggesting the landscape itself remembers the past and actively resists the stories colonisers have tried to tell about it. The film contrasts the tidy world of Appleyard College – which stands for colonial order, built on white privilege and Britishness – against the untamed mysterious landscape of Ngannelong. The girls represent white femininity, meant to bring culture and control. When they vanish, it's as if the land rejects these colonial ideals. Their disappearance unravels the school's order, exposing how fragile colonial power really is. It hints at a deeper crisis beneath the surface. Russell Boyd's cinematography is key to the film's unsettling mood. Shifting light and strange angles create a sense of uncertainty. The bush isn't just background, it is defiant. This fits with 'ecological cinema', where nature has its own voice. In Picnic at Hanging Rock, the land often overpowers people. It refuses to be controlled or explained by colonial ideas. Picnic at Hanging Rock is part of the Australian Gothic: literature and films which explore dark parts of Australia's story. Named for European Gothic literature of the 18th and 19th centuries, these 20th century Australian stories often express the anxieties, violence and uncanny dislocations of colonisation and the natural landscape these settlers encountered. In this Australian Gothic tradition, Picnic at Hanging Rock uses haunting and mystery to explore deep social and historical wounds. These unsettled feelings still shape how Australia sees itself. Australia's national identity rests on silences and erasures. Like the missing schoolgirls, the colonial subject is lost – unsure of who belongs and whose history matters. Picnic at Hanging Rock remains powerful today, especially in light of ongoing discussions about Indigenous sovereignty and reconciliation in Australia. The film's mystery is never solved, forcing viewers to sit with the discomfort of what's left unsaid. The land is not something empty or passive, but alive. It is a force that remembers and resists. Even 50 years later, the film still unsettles, not just through its eerie beauty, but by challenging colonial ways of thinking and reminding us that sovereignty endures – even if it's not always visible. This piece first appeared on The Conversation. Jo Coghlan is an associate professor of humanities, arts and social sciences at the University of New England.
Geek Vibes Nation
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
20th Century Studios Sets 4K UHD Blu-Ray Release For 'Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World'
20th Century Studios has officially announced that the action-packed period epic Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World will be available to own on 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook on August 5, 2025. This stunningly restored and remastered release is presented in Dolby Vision with Dolby Atmos audio. Visionary director Peter Weir crafted a high-seas masterpiece set during the Napoleonic Wars featuring an all-star cast led by Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. In addition, 20th Century Studios will present a special one-night-only 4K theatrical presentation of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World on Friday, August 1, as part of Beyond Fest at the iconic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, CA. This exclusive event offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the critically acclaimed, fan-favorite epic on the big screen as it was meant to be seen. The Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release is housed in a collectible two-disc SteelBook set, featuring striking, navy-and-gold nautical artwork that reflects the film's epic scale and maritime themes. Get the details below! Synopsis: Adapted from the tenth novel in Patrick O'Brian's legendary 'Aubrey/Maturin' series, the film stars Russell Crowe as Captain 'Lucky Jack' Aubrey, the Royal Navy's most daring and battle-tested commander, and Paul Bettany as his close friend, ship's surgeon, and naturalist Stephen Maturin. When HMS Surprise is ambushed by a superior enemy vessel, Aubrey must confront the brutal challenges of war, the unforgiving sea, and the limits of leadership. With his ship damaged and crew wounded, he sets off on a relentless pursuit across two oceans – facing a choice between duty and loyalty, and a mission that could alter the fate of nations or destroy them all. Special Features Deleted Scenes Historical and Geographical Trivia Track Pop-Up Map Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
Geek Tyrant
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
MASTER AND COMMANDER: FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD Finally Sets Sail on 4K Blu-ray with Steelbook Edition — GeekTyrant
Director Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is finally getting the 4K treatment it deserves, and it's arriving with a stunning Steelbook edition that feels tailor-made for collectors and naval warfare geeks alike. Released in 2003, Master and Commander is an adaptation of several of Patrick O'Brian's novels, set during the Napoleonic Wars in 1805. It stars Russell Crowe as Captain Jack 'Lucky Jack' Aubrey and Paul Bettany as ship's doctor and naturalist Stephen Maturin. While it earned 10 Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture), the film's legacy has grown over time, now celebrated as one of the most detailed and grounded historical epics ever made. Crowe himself famously came to the film's defense in 2021, clapping back at a post that mocked the movie for not being exciting enough. He wrote: 'That's the problem with kids these days. No focus. Peter Weir's film is brilliant. An exacting, detail oriented, epic tale of fidelity to Empire & service, regardless of the cost. Incredible cinematography by Russell Boyd & a majestic soundtrack. Definitely an adults movie.' This is a film that prizes character, realism, and atmosphere over spectacle. The bond between Aubrey and Maturin gives the movie its emotional core, and Weir's attention to detail, from naval tactics to period-accurate wardrobe, cements it as a film that rewards viewers who appreciate craft. The new 4K Blu-ray drops on August 5 and comes equipped with Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos audio. The Steelbook packaging is also a highlight: featuring an illustrated cover of Captain Aubrey, a compass rose design on the back, and a moody interior shot of Crowe braving stormy seas—it has the look of a weathered maritime journal pulled from a captain's quarters. Bonus features include: Deleted Scenes Historical and Geographical Trivia Track Pop-Up Map For fans who want to experience it how it was meant to be seen, 20th Century Studios is hosting a special one-night-only 4K theatrical screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on August 1 as part of Beyond Fest. It's a rare chance to feel the full power of cannon fire and crashing waves on the big screen. If you already love this film, this release is a no-brainer. And if you've never seen it? Now's your chance to climb aboard.
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World' Finally Gets A 4K Blu-Ray Release—On A 100GB Disc
Movie and AV fans have been clamoring for it for years, and Disney has finally answered the call: Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is being released on 4K Blu-ray disc at last. Disney has revealed today that Peter Weir's classic film about a stricken British Royal Navy vessel battling across two oceans with a French warship during the Napoleonic Wars will be coming out on today's best physical media format on August 5 in the U.S., and September 8 in the U.K., boasting what promises to be state of the art picture and sound. "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World" will be available on 4K Blu-ray in the U.S. and ... More U.K. in a Steelbook edition. On the picture quality front, the new 4K master of the film (which has been restored from original film elements) will be available in not just high dynamic range video for the first time, but Dolby Vision HDR, which adds extra scene by scene picture information to the video stream to help compatible TVs and projectors deliver more accurate and, usually, dynamic looking images. I'm also very happy to report that Disney is going against its usual policy and choosing to place the Master And Commander 4K HDR master on a 100GB 4K Blu-ray disc rather than a 66GB one. This matters because it gives the film's mastering team much more space to work with when trying to optimize how much – or how little – compression they need to apply to the 138-minute film in order to fit it onto its new shiny disc home. This probably doesn't mean that Disney is switching to 100GB discs for all of its 4K Blu-ray releases from now on (though we can always hope). But it's still good to find that a much-loved two hour 18 minute film now apparently qualifies for the 100GB treatment in Disney's mind. Master And Commander's images aren't the only thing to get a cutting edge renovation for the film's 4K Blu-ray release. Disney has confirmed in its announcement today that the film's original Dolby Digital soundtrack has been given a new Dolby Atmos remaster that will hopefully add a whole new dimension, literally, to the film's famously intense sea battle scenes. The inner gatefold artwork for the 'Master And Commander' 4K Blu-ray steelbook release. The U.S. 4K Blu-ray release of Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World is going to follow Disney's usual recent approach by being exclusively available in a Steelbook edition. The Steelbook design will boast a striking navy-and-gold nautical artwork featuring a detailed compass rose on the rear and an illustration of Captain Aubrey looming sword in hand over his trusty ship on the front, while the inside of the package features a sweeping ocean vista showing the Captain (memorably played by Russell Crowe) standing in front of a raging seascape. While U.K. fans of Master And Commander have a bit longer to wait for the film to arrive on 4K Blu-ray than their U.S. counterparts do, I can confirm that the film will be available in the U.K. in a more affordable standard 4K Blu-ray package alongside the premium Steelbook edition. Though there's no doubt about which version this particular Brit is going to be buying! Disney hasn't revealed full details about the bonus features fans can expect to find alongside Master And Commander's new 4K HDR remaster, but I can confirm that while the provided extras will include deleted scenes, a historical and geographical trivia track and a pop-up map, no new features have been found for the 4K release. If you fancy catching the film again on a really big theatrical screen before its 4K Blu-ray hits stores, 20th Century Studios will be presenting the film in a special one-night-only 4K Theatrical presentation at Hollywood's iconic Egyptian Theater on Friday August 1. — Related reading 'Monty Python And The Holy Grail' To Get 50th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray Release 'Kingdom Of Heaven' 4K Blu-ray Details Announced—Including Restored And Remastered Director's Cut Disney Announces Restored And Remastered 'Lilo & Stitch' 4K Blu-Ray
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘Outstanding and raw' war film with Saoirse Ronan streaming now
The drama is said to be a tough watch An 'outstanding' war film featuring a little-known Saoirse Ronan role is currently streaming. Released back in 2010, The Way Back stars the Little Women star, alongside Hollywood heavyweights Colin Farrell, Jim Strugess, and Ed Harris. The film is currently available to stream at no extra cost for Prime Video subscribers. Set in 1939, the drama follows a group of gulag prisoners who escape a Siberian labour camp, and must trek thousands of miles to freedom. It is inspired by Polish prisoner of war Sławomir Rawicz's 1956 memoir, The Long Walk, in which he claimed to have escaped a Soviet gulag during World War Two. Although the memoir tells an inspiring story, its authenticity is widely debated. While Rawicz, who died in 2004, claimed to have embarked on this gruelling 4,000 mile escape, historical evidence suggests the author may not have taken on the journey at all. Despite this, famed Australian director Peter Weir was drawn to the story's heart and decided to adapt it for the big screen. Ronan plays Irena, a young refugee who encounters escapees Janusz Wieszczek (Sturgess), Mr Smith (Harris), and Valka (Farrell) during their journey. Upon its release, The Way Back earned widespread critical acclaim, bagging a respectable 73 per cent critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers raved about the period drama, with one saying: "This Peter Weir epic offers sweeping ambition and strong performances to go with its grand visual spectacle." Casual moviegoers were equally impressed by the drama, with one Google Review stating: "It's a masterpiece and it's a pity that this movie is so underrated." The same fan continued: "From actors to the dialogues, lights, camera-angle, background music, scripting, screenplay, art direction of sets, cinematography, everything will just blow your mind." Someone else crowned the feature as "one of the greatest movies of WW2". Meanwhile, another fan said: "[It is a] tough to watch but an incredible story!" Elsewhere, viewers claimed the "acting was outstanding and so was the story," with yet another fan praising the "raw" storyline. A final viewer took to IMDb and simply penned: "Grim but beautiful."
