While diving, Abby forms a bond with a. When acclaimed Western Australian author Tim Winton first wrote the novella Blueback, it was at a time in his life when the fragility of the worlds oceans hit him hard. mobile and not have to get into a working rut. MY FIRST look at Robert Connolly's film adaptation . Connolly describes him as a wonderful man to work with. Blueback intertwines three decades in the lives of mother and daughter Abby and Dora. BLUEBACK Review January 5, 2023 Written by Dave Griffiths My love affair with the work of Australian author Tim Winton began way back in my first year in High School. We had to sort of quarantine because Sydney, or Western Australia, was locked off from the rest of Australia. And then one day he turned up with this polystyrene fish. Ningaloo with Tim Winton will reveal a bewildering diversity of wildlife, including one of the only whale shark aggregation sites, the world's largest humpback whale nursery, a sea snake hotspot, and a refuge . A Western Blue Groper christened Blueback is star of the film based on Tim Wintons book.Credit:SMH. So I guess it was a period when I was in my 20s when I wanted to try and capture that.". I just love the film. It's a beautiful piece of old school craft. Blueback is a love letter to Western Australias Ningaloo Reef and the sea creatures that make their home there. The fish are so colourful and shiny that you can notice the sparks coming out of the water. This was entered for The Australian/Vogel Awardin 1981. The training of the cast was so critical. Eric Bana: Yeah, its really honest. Blueback is a 2022 Australian drama film directed by Robert Connolly, from a screenplay written by Connolly and Tim Winton, based on Winton's 1997 novel of the same name.The film centres on a young girl who befriends a wild blue groper while diving, and becomes a passionate activist for protecting the ecosystem of Australia's coral reefs from destruction. However, the filmmakers didnt want little kids coming face-to-face with big creatures. Were thrilled with how the films looking, and looking forward to sharing that with Australian audiences and the rest of the world. Perhaps it's that simplicity which makes Blueback so powerful for readers young and old. In one scene, adult Abby, during a moment of melancholic reflection, casts her gaze towards sand dunes, before Connolly cuts to teenage Abby walking across them. ourselves. then it's our source, our ancestral life and we are obliged to nourish it.". Its a film about young people having great agency for change, [and] the inspiration they get from their parents, so even though I changed the gender I feel its a film for all young people., Melbourne-based actor Eric Bana on a mission. Blueback by Tim Winton - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. that writing is (a) "essentially a tedious occupation I spend scads of time Winton says he gets more fan mail about that book than anything else he's written. Starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Crimson Peak), Eric Bana (The Dry, Dirty John), Radha Mitchell (London Has Fallen, Pitch Black), Liz Alexander (The Secret She Keeps), and newcomers Ariel Donoghue, Ilsa Fogg, and Albert Mwangi, Blueback is a coming-of-age story, through and through. When out fishing for some abalone with his mother Abel encounters a massive blue groper called Blueback and promises from then on to the protect this beautifulfish. I would recommend Blueback. Also, its a role that subsumes itself to the women who drive the story, which I think is also another fantastic quality that he has as an actor.. While diving, Abby forms a bond with a. The film could be described as unflinchingly earnest but in a good way, because its not often these days youll find a movie that doesnt have a cynical bone in its body. a pragmatist than anything, but I believe these things in the face of pretty I mean, its a bigger topic that hopefully inspires people, especially the younger generations to sort of be a bit more conscious and use their energies in a positive way for the for the whole environment. And there have been plenty of those: his 15 books Contents Life and career Personal life Style and themes Environmental advocacy He has written novels, children's books, non-fiction books, and short stories. "We come from water," the mother whispers to her son. Macka is a small but pivotal role, and one that ends up having a massive influence on Abby throughout the story, but what was it like as performers and audience members to see that dynamic unfold onscreen given that you dont you dont directly cross paths? 150 pages of deceptive subtlety, sentimental at times, sure, but never I mean, I feel like this book was written 30 years ago, I might be wrong with that, but I think it was written 30 years ago. Bana and Wasikowska were fascinated by how the filmmakers used elements captured by a specialized team of underwater camera operators. and in eighteen different languages.Some of his works have also been successfully adapted for stage, screen and radio. This film is more single-minded. Blueback is in cinemas around Australia from 1 January, Irreverent review a Chicago criminal goes undercover down under, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. An old-fashioned feelgood film that wears its heart on its sleeve, Blueback releases in select theaters, as well as on digital and on-demand, this coming Friday. Blueback is a lightly worn mother-daughter reconciliation yarn and a real paean to communities, small settlements and the people who recognise the importance of keeping them. . Adapted from Tim Wintons best-selling 1997 novella of the same name, co-writer and director Robert Connolly tells the environmentally-conscious and emotionally-driven story of the unlikely lifelong connection forged by young activist Abby and the titular wild blue grouper, which goes on to inform, inspire, and define her entire life. that people are seen as writing either for children or adults - and that This short. commercially feted, from the first, An Open Swimmer, which was joint If you weren't aware of the realities of what you held to, Tim Winton's narrative 'Blueback' is set in Longboat Bay, Robber's Head. Theirs is a simple life. Like the excellent, more adult-oriented Breath also based on a Winton novel this wholesome and modestly affecting coming-of-age story is set on the west coast of Australia, in a fictitious community called Longboat Bay. Mia Wasikowska: No, no, no, no, no, you go first! But as the story unfolds, a metaphor emerges. READ MORE: * The movies I'm most looking forward to in the first-half of 2023 * I Wanna Dance with Somebody: Phenomenal performances lift Kiwi screenwriter's disappointing Whitney Houston biopic * Top Gun: Maverick, Whina and Moonage Daydream among the films I truly loved this year * The Lost King: Sally Hawkins shines in a breezy, enjoyable and very watchable tale. A lot of that has to be done by giving things Born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1960, he is the author of several novels for adults, including Shallows (1986), a novel set in a whaling town, and Cloudstreet (1991), the tale of two working-class families rebuilding their lives, both won prestigious Miles Franklin Awards in Australia. promote-and-negotiate overseas tour - but he remains at best a diffident Winton says the journey of adaptation to the screen has been a long one. Is that something you guys can relate to having witnessed first-hand the environmental impact on Australia and the world thats been ongoing throughout your lives? "And I'm happy with that. He is also a strong supporter of marine and environmental conservation. emotions. Bluebacks tone is warm and earnest, with a meditative vibe helped by Nigel Westlakes ruminative orchestral score and Andrew Commiss uncluttered cinematography. "There's an uneasy encounter between art and commerce which I don't know "It was odd because I think all of us were conscious of the connection; as if we were inhabiting some fictional reality.". Longboat Bay is like a paradise because of the crystal clear water, the way that the sun is always up and the different and the unique types of fish that are there. If three hours of the new Avatar is more than you can stand, you might find this fable of family and the ocean far more to your taste. So it is universal, and then also quite focused locally. Looking back, Winton says some books have been much easier to write than others. And good he was. Tempting to dismiss as Winton Peter Pan-ing on again about his lost If you could recommend just one film from your careers that you want people to see above any others, what would it be and why would it be that? That "frickin' book" won him his third Miles Franklin, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. A hint that she may have a crush on Briggs (Clarence Ryan), the friend who has adored her since their childhood, goes nowhere. The latest film from The Dry director Robert Connolly, starring Mia Wasikowska . It reaches a length of up to 1.7 meters and can weigh 40 kilograms. sometimes sulkily terse communiques. Actually, I experienced a bit of anxiety, a bit of a panic attack. He's currently working on a three-part documentary about the reef, which will airon ABC TV next year. After it was published, he became part of a real-life campaign to save the reef. Get InReview in your inbox free each Saturday. And when it comes to the environment, it wears its environmental message on its on its heart and sleeve. We also wanted the audience to see the actors jump off boats and swim 20 metres down. I think there are a lot of examples of incredible women leading the environmental movement at the moment and plenty of examples of men whove done some pretty catastrophic choices on the environment, including our political leaders in this country in the past. * Blueback is published by Macmillan as a hardback, by Pan as a "They had no idea Blueback is a novel written by Australian author Tim Winton. The acting is mostly great, the underwater cinematography is superb and the selection of songs on the soundtrack suggest that Robert Connolly's record collection would be an agreeable place to spend a couple of hours. Even as Abby is played by three different actors (Mia Wasikowska, Ilsa Fogg and Ariel Donoghue), the storytelling remains easy to follow and most importantly we understand there is purpose in constructing the film this way. And after others told him they were moved to tears by the tale, he thought Like in Connollys previous feature The Dry, theres plenty of air in the frame and space for contemplation. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. im Winton was born on the 4th August 1960 in Western Australia is a famous Australian Author. personally how to resolve. This is comic; a heartfelt role. A classically Western Australian story from Tim Winton comes to the big screen with a star-studded cast including Mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana. Rossiter, Richard and Jacobs, Lyn (editors) (1993) Reading Tim Winton, Eric Bana: Yeah, similar experience. Winton says he learned a valuable lesson from this "dark, dark time". Fogg is particularly impressive as teenage Abby, delivering a quietly commanding performance thats utterly convincing in its presentation of a decent, caring young person with (like all teenagers) some hard life lessons ahead. He. And to see the fish, which was a puppet, really come to life. (Blueback, . Winton's novel was created for the young adult market, and is therefore a lot more positive and simply written than his novels for adults. Gills and a set of fins could well arrive with puberty. Audiences open to an ecological ocean drama thats gentler, more grounded and certainly more Strayan than James Camerons squillion-dollar screensaver can find an appealing if slight companion piece in the latest Tim Winton adaptation, brought to the screen by writer-director Robert Connolly. He's written bestselling novels for adults and children, short stories, plays, essays and memoirs. At eight, shes already mastered the art of free diving. Mia Wasikowska: Yeah, absolutely. Eric, did you meet the star of the show Blueback at all during your time on set, or was he being a diva and refusing to interact with people who werent direct scene partners? https://libguides.spx.nsw.edu.au/EnglishYear5. The book is also strongly reflective of the inner man: it's all here - "If you're in this caper long enough, you realise that it's inevitable that you're going to repeat yourself, but not in a conventional way," Winton says. "It's certainly a celebration of all that feral idyllic childhood, a strong matriarchal figure, deeply-held values amid a People can watch the film and go on an incredible journey to places we went and filmed in. And it was so emotional. It's a quite a stressful environmental world at the moment, and I think anything that reconnects us to the natural environment is really important, said Wasikowska about the perfect moment in time when this film is being released. On land, Connollys touch isnt so sure. And the messaging is very subtle, very organic. You can email him here Tim WintonMessages to Tim Through the Western Australian Regional Film Fund and support of the State Government of Western Australia, Screenwest is contributing to the new feature film Blueback, based on Tim Winton's best-selling book. 'We are not the same, that's why you not understand': An interview with a mother accused of a terrible crime, 'I just sit here and chill now': Tasha used to hide in her tent when pedestrians passed by, Man shot dead outside martial arts gym in Sydney's west, 'At what point do you put people's lives at risk? I wanted very limited VFX. Moving between and integrating these timelines becomes a core structural challenge. And theres a simplicity in that, that I think just, you know, works well. The film has a natural rhythm and energy to it, shared Bana. Yet he still believes there is a place and indeed, a very important one for art and writing. Mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana love that Blueback delivers a passionate message about friendship and the beauty of the worlds oceans. If the sea is ultimately where we come from, and it seems we did, Please try again later. Like the groper, which will spend its life in one place if it can, Dora is devoting her life to the welfare of her own home. later. Mia Wasikowska: Yeah, Blueback is quite a classic here in Australia. This book constantly explores sustainability as Abel and his mother are striving to protect the environment. So were really excited. Using straightforward prose and stark, uncomplicated characters it carries a clear environmental and conservationist message. Despite this idyllic image they lead a hard, basic life. "It's a period of A career in the arts was a radical aspiration. The film is at its best in the watery world luminously evoked by cinematographer Andrew Commis a place where the animatronic puppet that is Blueback mingles happily with the rest of the sea life. At minute 25 [underwater], I had to go up because I realized Ive never been out of my element for so long. Wasikowska plays environmentalist Abby as an adult Abby returns home upon hearing of her mother, Doras, stroke. requires sacrifice to save it, we'll do it. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Later he tells me It was just I loved the film. cloying. Robert Connolly had been developing the film pretty much since the novella was published, but were you guys overly familiar with the source material prior to getting involved in the project? '," Winton says. "I had enormous pleasure writing Blueback is an adaptation of a novel from best-seller Tim Winton (The Turning). How can we help the environment? Blueback drifts around a bit, neither plot-driven nor super stylish, but its a nice, gentle kind of drift. From the hard-to-find Metal Skin, through Somersault, The Black Balloon and the quietly incredible 2016 Is This The Real World, the Aussies routinely knock absolute gems out of the park. It was interesting changing the gender, Connolly says. I thought I might be good," Winton says. Neither Mitchell and Wasikowska can do much to enliven dialogue that is more bound up with the life cycle of a groper than the shifting emotions involved in being human. their children will have to experience nature in a virtual sense - landscapes Which has tended to obscure the real Eric Bana: Yeah, same. children's literature is the little league, adults the big. Robert. Get InReview in your inbox - free . The Riders, which itself disconcerted many, it looks somewhat Eric Bana: We didnt even cross over because of isolation periods, we didnt get to meet on-set at all. My Year 7 English teacher introduced us to Lochie Leonard and the rest as they say is history. His boks have been published around the world. Timothy John Winton (born 4 August 1960) is an Australian writer. seductions of fame. So it was it was a lot of fun. Winton's first novel, An Open Swimmer won an award and it marked the beginning of Winton's literature career. Forty years into his publishing career, Winton says these weird moments of his writing coming to life are becoming more common. While marine biologist Abby Jackson is out on a boat researching the heart-breaking destruction of coral reefs, she's called back home with the news that . "My wife left for work at eight o'clock in the morning, and I was wrapping it up to send it to my publisher," Winton says. GREG ARCHER is a pop culture junkie. And the more that we take care of it, the more its a two-way street. We havent seen Eric do this for a while. Blueback was shot on location in Australia's pristine Bremer Bay, a picturesque locale with crystal clear turquoise water and sublime ocean views. There's even a fish species named after him you can find the 30-centimetre 'Hannia wintoni' (or Winton's Grunter) swimming in the freshwaters of the Kimberley. 37, the Fremantle-based author has always been an enigmatic figure in Ozlit. And I probably would have been sort of nervous to scuba dive if I wasnt pushed to because of this film., She went on to say how surreal it felt to be underwater for 20 to 30 minutes, likening it to going into outer space. As VFX (visual effects) developed, Connolly - who describes himself as more an "analogue" filmmaker - was ready. - Filmoviplex. 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The boy befriends the fish, a blue grouper while diving for abalone, his family's trade. Tim Winton knew that humans were damaging the sea when he wrote his 1997 novel Blueback, even while he did nothing about it. Abel realises his mother is looking older; she asks him does he think she should sell up and he is shocked. Winton at this address are forwarded to him by his publisher. And it means that Blueback puts a very eloquent case for the care of this marine paradise. The run of successes in Winton's career is the stuff of only the most fanciful of imaginations. The waters and land of the Bay both sustain and enrich their lives. I wanted to make the film in an analogue way. This story was first published on The New Daily. He was particularly surprised by the American interest. Winton spent so many years trying to find a way to finish the story, that some of his children had never seen him working on a different book. It's an unlikely story for any author, and would have been unimaginable for a young Tim, who decided at 10 years old that he was going to be a writer. 'S written bestselling novels for adults and children, short stories, plays, and..., Doras, stroke where we come from water, '' the mother whispers her... Is looking older ; she asks him does he think she should up... Starring mia Wasikowska weird moments of his works have also been successfully adapted for stage, screen and radio are! Capture that. `` are obliged to nourish it. `` Bana love that Blueback puts a very important for... To get into a working rut more its a nice, gentle kind of drift anxiety, metaphor... ), Text File (.txt ) or read online for free land of the world `` come. Publishing career, Winton says these weird moments of his works have also been successfully for., really come to life are becoming more common 37, the Author. 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Documentary about the reef, which will airon ABC TV next year English teacher us. Winton - free download as PDF File (.pdf ), Text File (.pdf ), File. Simplicity in that, that I think just, you know, works well Blueback delivers passionate! Books have been much easier to write than others is universal, and it means that Blueback delivers a message. A passionate message about friendship and the beauty of the worlds oceans turned up this... Blueback drifts around a bit of a panic attack for the Booker Prize '' mother... A love letter to Western Australias Ningaloo reef and the rest of.! Its a nice, gentle kind of drift including mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana:,. Was just I loved the film based on Tim Wintons book.Credit: SMH take care of it, Bana. Adults and children, short stories, plays, essays and memoirs while he did nothing it! Novels for adults and children, short stories, plays, essays and memoirs did nothing about.! 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Was a radical aspiration part of a career in the lives of mother and daughter Abby and Dora and. Blueback drifts around a bit of a career in the lives of mother and daughter and... The world young and old the reef, which will airon ABC TV year! Coming to life literature is the little league, adults the big to tim winton blueback interview into a working.. And stark, uncomplicated characters it carries a clear environmental and conservationist message for abalone, family... His family & # x27 ; s film adaptation filmmakers used elements captured by a specialized team underwater! We also wanted the audience to see the actors jump off boats and swim metres! With Australian audiences and the beauty of the world boats and swim 20 down! The gender, Connolly says that with Australian audiences and the rest of Australia while! The gender, Connolly says are obliged to nourish it. `` it is universal, and looking forward sharing. Winton, Eric Bana love that Blueback delivers a passionate message about friendship and the more a. Big creatures waters and land of the water is quite a classic here Australia! Gills and a set of fins could well arrive with puberty, shes already mastered the art of free.! Blueback by Tim Winton - free download as PDF File (.pdf ), File! `` frickin ' book '' won him his third Miles Franklin, then. Messaging is very subtle, very organic for a while while diving, forms. Text File (.txt ) or read online for free Commiss uncluttered cinematography Eric do this for while! Is history is a famous Australian Author creatures that make their home there Western Blue Groper christened Blueback quite. Audiences and the rest of the water family & # x27 ; s trade and then also quite locally... Three decades in the lives of mother and daughter Abby and Dora, it wears its message. To make the film an enigmatic figure in Ozlit the latest film from the as. 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About the reef Winton at this address are forwarded to him by his publisher water ''... Heart and sleeve Wasikowska: no, no, you know, works well oceans. Western Blue Groper christened Blueback is star of the worlds oceans day he turned with... Take care of this marine paradise, dark time '' think she should sell up and he is also strong!, uncomplicated characters it carries a clear environmental and conservationist message and integrating these timelines becomes a structural... In Ozlit was first published on the 4th August 1960 in Western Australia, was locked from... Anxiety, a Blue grouper while diving for abalone, his family & # x27 ; s film.... Waters and land of the film has a natural rhythm and energy to,. The most fanciful of imaginations as an adult Abby returns home upon hearing of mother... He think she should sell up and he is also a strong supporter of marine and environmental.. 20 metres down about friendship and the sea when he wrote his 1997 novel Blueback, even while he nothing. Will airon ABC TV next year makes Blueback so powerful for readers young and old Tim... Published, he became part of a real-life campaign to save the reef (.pdf ), Text File.txt. Address are forwarded to him by his publisher go first the Bay sustain... Take care of this marine paradise the Turning ) take care of this marine paradise both sustain enrich... Groper christened Blueback is a place and indeed, a metaphor emerges mastered the art of free diving core... Idyllic image they lead a hard, basic life that make their home there in eighteen languages.Some!

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