Tony is released from prison and goes in search of what once was happiness, Anna. She has vanished so he hits the road North in hope of finding her. Along the way he meets Sam, (Judy Morris), and a relationship develops between the two. How wonderful it is to see the South coast along the Melbourne to Sydney route and the realism of Sydney at the time as never captured before in honesty by an Australian filmmaker. (The scene with the Eternity man gave me goose bumps.) The story is not told in chronological order and leaves you guessing. You think you have it tied up midway through but director/writer Esben is a step ahead of us. Some wonderful moments with strong performances hold this unstable film together through its weaker moments.
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DukeEman25 February 2003
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PeterM2717 November 2021This is an intriguing road-trip through 1970s Australia, with two troubled characters getting to know each other on the several days they take to drive along the coast from Melbourne to Sydney, and later to Queensland. As they travel, Tony's story is told in flashbacks, explaining why he is adrift after serving six years in jail for a robbery when his mates somehow avoided jail-time.
Sam's story, is more opaque, involving frustration with her photographer boyfriend and artistic friends. They make an unlikely couple as they cruise Highway One discussing life to pass the miles.
Richard Moir and Judy Morris were two of Australia's most likeable actors in the 1970s, and, although their characters (Tony and Sam) are both going through tough times and behave somewhat erratically through frustration, their underlying charm remains.
The other attraction of this film, like many films of the era, is that it shows Australia the way it was then, buildings that have been pulled down, and the unusual dress sense we had at the time. -
I saw this movie on TV years ago and fell in love with the thought provoking story and realism of the characterisation and the story was fantastic. Not the most riveting film, yet I made a connection with this film which has never truly left my mind since i saw it. Reminded me of Walkabout. I'm not sure why it left such a marked impression on me but i just had to find this movie again! (Was made more difficult since i'd forgotten the title! THANKYOU IMDb!) I recommend this movie to any Australian-at-heart who likes the bush, travel, adventure, and a bit of bizarreness in their life ^_^.
8/10