The film also did an extensive tour of the domestic film festival circuit (the 1986 Melbourne Film Festival) and internationally, including the 1986 San Francisco and Sundance Film Festivals, and the New Directors/New Films Festival at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, screening 6 pm April 7th 1986 and 8.30 pm, 8th April at the Roy and Niuta Titus Theatre 1 - presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Centre and the Department of Film of the Museum of Modern Art.Īt time of writing, the film doesn't seem to have made it across the digital divide, and copies of the original tape release are now extremely rare. Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Michele Fawdon) (Noni Hazlehurst won for Fran). Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (John Clayton) (Chris Haywood won for A Street to Die) Nominated, Best Screen Play (Original) (Bob Ellis) (Glenda Hambley won for Fran) Nominated, Best Achievement in Direction (Bob Ellis) (Ray Lawrence won for Bliss) Nominated, Best Feature Film (Rebel Penfold-Russell) (Anthony Buckley won for Bliss). It did however do a surprisingly extensive tour of the domestic and international film festival circuit, including the United States, and it was sold domestically to the 0-28 network (SBS).įor a low budget entry, the film did respectable business at the 1985 AFI Awards, though it didn't score any wins: The film, though finished in 1985, had to wait in both Sydney and Melbourne for a theatrical release, and in Melbourne, it was only given a release in the repertory cinema, the Valhalla. The film did minimal theatrical business domestically, and isn't listed in the Film Victoria report on domestic box office - David Stratton described the film's release as "the most limited exposure". Running time: 78 mins (Murray's Australian Film, David Stratton's The Avocado Plantation and The New York Times) 76 mins Sundance Film Festival. Theatrical release: the film was reported as having a short season in Sydney in November 1986 ( The Age, 27th February 1987), and it turned up in the Valhalla in Melbourne for a limited three week season, from 1st May 1987 ( The Age, same date).ģ5mm, though David Stratton suggests it was shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm for theatrical release, and given the size of the budget, this is likely Eastmancolor Other minor exteriors took in familiar Sydney locations - Circular Quay and North Sydney railway stations, for example, as well as extensive views of the Pittwater and the seaplane service to Palm Beach.įilmed: according to Ellis (not the most reliable source), he wrote the screenplay in three days, or alternatively, in 72 hours spread over three weeks, spent one day on pre-production and one day on rehearsal, and shot the film in 11 days the film was listed as being in post-production in the July 1985 Cinema Papers' production survey, though curiously it was in the television section.Īustralian distributor: Self-distributed in Australia Locations: Interiors and exteriors were filmed at houses owned by Bob Ellis in Palm Beach (later burned down in a family accident in 1993 - see the ABC's The Drum herefor writer-director Bob Ellis's story of the loss), and Wahroonga, and at a Bellevue Hill flat Ellis used to live in. Limited.īudget: $102,000 - according to writer/director Bob Ellis, he took no fees from the budget for writing and directing. Production company: no head presentation credit copyrighted to Unfinished Business Pty. (For an extensive transcript of the dialogue in the film, see this site's 'about the film'). However Maureen, now happily pregnant, returns to George, and a year later, Geoff turns up to see the result of his work …ĭirector Bob Ellis is briefly sighted as Geoff's flatmate, while Andrew "Lord of the Rings" Lesnie, in his first outing as a DOP, has a cameo appearance as a Telegram Boy. Maureen proposes to Geoff that he father a child for her, and when George heads off to America, she and Geoff head off to Geoff's family weekender at Palm Beach for some procreational love-making.Īt first the pair concentrate on the business at hand - Maureen won't allow sex until the temperature is right - but in due course the old spark returns. They've tried to have children but can't - but as a result of her early experience, she knows it's not her. ![]() She later got married to the older George (Norman Kaye), a pollster and statistician, who was also her boss. ![]() Maureen was meant to follow him to England, but didn't, and over coffee, it transpires that she had an abortion, after allegedly having a one night fling at a party, the result of her missing Geoff. ![]() He's left behind a failed marriage and three children in New Jersey, and the story begins when he sights an old flame, Maureen (Michele Fawdon), at Circular Quay railway station. Geoff (John Clayton) is a middle-aged journalist and columnist, who returns to Australia after fifteen years overseas. (Note: this listing and synopsis contains spoilers)
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