Rooted (film)
| Rooted | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Play by Alex Buzo |
| Written by | Alex Buzo |
| Directed by | Ron Way |
| Starring | James Laurie Genevieve Mooy Peter Mochrie Terry Serio Kathleen Allen[1] |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Alan Burke |
| Running time | 81 minutes[1] |
| Production company | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Release | 1985 |
Rooted is a made-for-TV Australian film based on the play by Alex Buzo.[2] It was produced for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and released in 1985.[1]
Cast
[edit | edit source]- Kathleen Allen as Diane
- Shane Connor
- James Laurie as Bentley
- Peter Mochrie as Richard
- Genevieve Mooy as Sandy
- Terry Serio as Gary
- Ian Spence
Production
[edit | edit source]Buzo was approached to make the film by Alan Burke. "He approached me to do this for what I felt were all the right reasons," said Buzo. "I thought he would do it with style and flair, rather than being pedestrian and naturalistic. But I didn't breathe my sigh of relief with Rooted until I saw the final version."[3]
The film was set in Manly in the mid-sixties. According to Buzo, "I've been told Rooted hasn't dated, but with a telemovie it has got to have a more definite time and place."[3]
Buzo said making a telemovie was tough. "It is so silent, it is like swimming underwater. When I saw the rough cut I was a bit shocked because the film medium seems unsubstantial compared to the stage... I think the stage is more malleable; if something doesn't work you can change it immediately. If something doesn't work on television you just can't go back and change it."[3]
Buzo was happy with the end product. "If all television could turn out like this I would be very happy because if it bad been done badly it would have reflected on the play. If it is good, it's like having something embalmed, like having 'St Rooted'."[3]
The film remained stylised. "I hate the naturalism of all these mini-series," said Buzo. "It is so boring. I prefer things to be like Rooted, more quirky, like a black comedy."[3]
Reception
[edit | edit source]The Age's Jason Romney calls it "a peculiar mix of domestic drama, black comedy and social satire" and says "Although too long, Rooted is nonetheless a merciless examination of the social centrifuge that can send a man to the "outer"."[4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p133
- ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- Rooted at AustLit
- Rooted at IMDbLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Rooted at AusStage
