A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN SURF
Australia, 1983, 52 minutes, Colour.
Michael Blakemore.
Directed by Michael Blakemore.
A Personal History of the Australian Surf is an award-winning documentary/feature film. It is the memoir of theatre director Michael Blakemore about growing up in Sydney in the '30s, '40s and early '50s. Blakemore introduces the film and discusses his memories. He also dramatises episodes of his life and he plays his father whom he found a very stern and difficult man to get on with. These scenes vividly re-create aspects of the pressures on an Australian boy growing up - the expectations of the masculine image and the ruggedness expected. Blakemore offers a critique of the attitudes of the times and illustrates how he broke through them. There is humour and warmth in the film even though Blakemore's memories of his father had not been healed. The film is an interesting example of a cinema form that should be used far more.
1. An enjoyable film? The nature of a memoir? The blend of documentary with drama? The possibility for the protagonist to speak to the audience, to reflect? Effective and enlightening entertainment?
2. The personality of Michael Blakemore: genial presence, invitation to the audience to participate in his film? His quality of insight, ability to speak? His visiting Sydney in 1980 and looking again at the houses, the coastline and the beaches? his remembering the past and re-enacting it? How well did he capture it? The use of photos, newsreels, short films from the early period? The blend of techniques? Style, pace, editing? The use of the Australian surf - realism, symbolism? His comment on the surf?
3. The title of the film? Its highlighting Blakemore's experience of the surf? Its highlighting Australian attitudes and values? The sub-title and the irony of the heterosexual poofter? Blakemore as a heterosexual young Australian interested in the arts - interests commonly associated with homosexuals? The pressures for a boy in growing up? The surf as the soothing element in his life? His ability to give it up when he went to England and begin his career?
4. The emphasis on the personal history of Blakemore? His being seen as a child, growing in the world of his father, the picture of his family, his father and his proposition to him, comparatively no mention of his mother? The revelation of the private and public worlds? The father taking his son for swims in the harbour and the expectations of diving and swimming in the pool? The contrast with the magic of the surf? Holidays and the surf? The young boy and his interest in theatre e.g. the magic show? Problems of puberty? The greater public schools with their tradition of sport and Cadets? The expectations for a medical student - and his breaking through them by socialising? Acting and the leading to a career in theatre? The point of view of a man who succeeded in his profession and succeeded outside Australia?
5. The film's insight into the pressures on the Australian boy: father's expectations, swimming, success in sport, 'macho image', boarding school discipline, his father not wanting his son to dance, amused at the magic show, not wanting him to see so many films, hoping the Cadets would toughen him? Pressures as regards career? Pressures as regards the advantages received and the ingratitude of waste? Blakemore's seeing the surf as a freeing element, a healing element? The critique of these pressure? His looking back with good humour? The point of view of a 'straight poofter?
6. The visualising of the sea, the Pacific, the Sydney beaches? The visuals of the surf, the waves, the boards, the lifesavers? The humour of these images? The contrast with the harbour? Water, sand, people, swimming? The purifying and tranquilising of the surf? Surf as a symbol of youth? A bond possible of affection with his father? (The irony of Blakemore acting the role of his father?)
7. The image of his father and Blakemore acting it out? An example of psychodrama? His stances, laughter, whistling, cross-legged? Fights and winning? His sardonic humour especially as regards his death? The brief allusion to his mother?
8. The background of Sydney society, wealth, fashionable suburbs, holiday homes. the best schools, university, golf club, money?
9. Themes of education - for what? Medicine and its uselessness for Blakemore? The background of the magic show, his knowledge of films and cinema? Acting? The advice and help of Robert Morley?
10. The insertion of the old films about surfing to highlight the Australian image of swimmer and lifesaver?
11. The value of the memoir: returning and reliving, seeing the past with fresh eyes, interpreting places and people? Joy? Healing? A re-assessment of one's life?
