Australia and Hollywood are around 7,500 miles apart – but sometimes Australian films are within touching distance of those famous Hollywood cinematic greats. Not everyone knows about the amazing films to come out of Australia, but they should.
Here we have five of the best Australian films that all film buffs should know about. If you are planning a move to Australia or an upcoming trip down under, grab the popcorn and watch these before jetting off.
1. The Castle
Every Australian knows about the 90s film, The Castle, but not as many foreigners do. It narrates the story of a Melbourne family who love their home located near the airport. However, authorities are trying to get them out of their house for commercial purposes. They stay and fight for their family home – but do they win?
Expect laughs along the way and some themes which will still resonate today.
2. Tracks
Tracks is an astonishing true story about a girl who walks through the blistering heat of the Australian outback from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean on the west coast. With only trained camels, a dog and the occasional visit from a National Geographic photographer, the feat is challenging to say the least.
The story is all the more engaging because it really happened, and you can read about it first-hand in Robyn Davidson’s award-winning book.
3. Priscilla Queen of the Desert
If you want laughs, this LGBT film from 1994 is the best Australian film you could hope for. The plot contains a transgender woman and two drag queens as they venture through the Australian outback in a motorhome named Priscilla. There are heaps of laughs along the road as the trio encounter different people and groups on their journey to Alice Springs.
4. Wolf Creek
Any backpacker heading to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa will probably know the name Ivan Milat. This man – who died in 2019 – was a convicted murderer who used to pick up hitchhiking backpackers. Wolf Creek is a film based on this murderer, but it is only worth watching if you don’t mind scary films.
5. Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly is one of the most famous men in Australia, and you might never have heard of him. He was the leader of an Irish-Australian gang hiding in the outback. They were outlaws and got into lots of mischief with locals and the English settlers.
Ned Kelly has been made into a film many times. The 2003 film was one of the best and stars Orlando Bloom, Heath Ledger and Naomi Bloom. In 2020, a new Ned Kelly film has been released with the title, The True History of the Kelly Gang.
Watch these to be entertained, but also to help you fit in with the locals when moving to Australia!
