Reconsidering the Place of Esben Storm’s In Search Of Anna in the History of the New Australian Cinema

Authors

  • Dean Biron Independent Scholar.

Keywords:

Folkloristics, Cinema, Identity, Australia,

Abstract

Various Australian films made in the post-war period have attracted considerable attention both here and (occasionally) overseas, some deservedly so, others through media hype often based on sentimental, satiric, or otherwise simplified perceptions of this country. The political and social reality of Australia during this time, and of its complete cinematic culture, is more complex. In Search of Anna is one production from the fruitful decade of the New Australian Cinema which merits serious reconsideration. This account endeavours to correct the neglect of what is a significant work of art, setting it in a filmic as well as a social context.

Author Biography

Dean Biron, Independent Scholar.

Spring Hill, Qld 4000.

References

Bloom, Harold, The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry, 2nd edn (New York, Oxford University Press, 1997).

Boyd, Barbara, ‘In Search of Anna,’ Cinema Papers, May-June (1979), 385.

Byrnes, Paul. ‘In Search of Anna.’ Australian Screen,

<http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/search-anna/notes/> [accessed 31 July 2010].

Clancy, Jack, ‘Australian Films and Fantasies’, Meanjin, 2 (1979), 193-205.

Dzenis, Anna, ‘In Search of Anna’, in Australian Film 1978-1994: A Survey of Theatrical Features, ed. by Scott Murray (Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1995), p. 33.

Hocking, Scott (ed.), 100 Greatest Films of Australian Cinema (Richmond, Vic: Scribal Publishing, 2006).

McFarlane, Brian, ‘Horror and Suspense’, in The New Australian Cinema, ed. by Scott Murray (Melbourne: Thomas Nelson, 1980), pp. 61-77.

Rattigan, Neil, Images of Australia: 100 Films of the New Australian Cinema (Dallas, TX: Southern Methodist University Press, 1991).

Speidel, Suzanne, ‘Film Form and Narrative’, in Introduction to Film Studies, ed. by Jill Nelmes (London: Routledge, 2007), pp. 60-89.

Stratton, David, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival (Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1980).

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Published

2010-11-05

Issue

Vol. 25 (2010): A Celebratory Issue

Section

Studies in Australian Folklore

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