Jason KingStorm Boy ($14-)
January 2nd 2009 22:55
Category: No Category
Storm Boy ($14-)
I was walking through Target the other day to buy a new belt after mine snapped because I am now resembling a Xmas Turkey when I walked past all the DVD sale tables. I thought I would have a little browse when I stumbled on one of my all time fave movies from when I was a child. Curious to see whether I would still like it and whether it had dated I thought I would purchase it - can't complain for $7- that's cheaper than an overnight rental from the DVD store. I took it to the counter where the lady says "I watched this beautiful film on TV the other night" - straight away my spirits went up - I knew it had to be great from when I was a youngster - It was released when I was 4. So this movie is VERY OLD. LOL
It won Best Film at the AFI Awards 1977, Moscow & Tehran Children's Film Festivals
This popular children's film is based on the novel by Australian author Colin Thiele.
Storm Boy lives with his reclusive fisherman father on South Australia's lonely and beautiful Coorong coast, a pet pelican, Mr Percival, and his Aboriginal friend, Fingerbone Bill for company. Storm Boy, growing up, is forced to choose between a life of continued isolation and the challenge of the world outside.
This timeless classic Australian masterpiece did not dissapoint in the slightest. The cinematography is brilliant, the acting is great (remember this was 1976 Australia) - especially from child actor Greg Rowe (who is now all grown up and living with his wife and two kids in Canada). David Gulpilil also provides a wandering Aboriginal man mysticism to the film and he looks quite younger than in Australia but it's like he is playing the same character. A character well suited to him. The area in which it is set is just beautiful and while Storm Boy battles with his needs to see the greater world and gain an education - all I wanted to do when watching was to swap places with him.
The film supplies a lot of themes about nurturing, growing, the circle of life (thankyou Lion King), isolation, friendship and the morality of right and wrong. The battle between life in general and the life the rest of the population says we should be living.
The film is funny at times, touching, sad and inspiring and will make you want a pet pelican!!!
Pelican Trivia: 1) Mr Pelican was played by three different pelicans named Mr Proud, Mr Ponder and Mr Percival. These three pelicans were trained by Grant Noble for several months prior to filming in May 1976. 2) The pelicans lived for a time at the swimming pool of the South Australian Film Corporation. 3) In February 1976, while living at the South Australian Film Corporation's Kent Town office, actor pelican "Dum Dum" flew away and gatecrashed a nearby private party. Another time, "Dum Dum" wandered off during rush hour down Fullarton Road, Kent Town in Adelaide. A passing-by driver courageously caught the runaway actor pelican and took him to the Adelaide Zoo. 4) The three "actor" pelicans were named Dum Dum, Carpenter and Sandwich. It took 12 months to train the pelicans and Dum Dum was the most adventurous pelican to wander off or escape.
Try and get to see this one - I know Target has them for $7- and you can probably pick up at most place for same price - or rent it. One dissapointing thing about it - the DVD is a straight copy of an older print - it is not remastered, but somehow to me this added to it's age and quality - like a fine port on film. Well worth $14- (hey, that means you could buy 2 copies).
I was walking through Target the other day to buy a new belt after mine snapped because I am now resembling a Xmas Turkey when I walked past all the DVD sale tables. I thought I would have a little browse when I stumbled on one of my all time fave movies from when I was a child. Curious to see whether I would still like it and whether it had dated I thought I would purchase it - can't complain for $7- that's cheaper than an overnight rental from the DVD store. I took it to the counter where the lady says "I watched this beautiful film on TV the other night" - straight away my spirits went up - I knew it had to be great from when I was a youngster - It was released when I was 4. So this movie is VERY OLD. LOL
It won Best Film at the AFI Awards 1977, Moscow & Tehran Children's Film Festivals
This popular children's film is based on the novel by Australian author Colin Thiele.
Storm Boy lives with his reclusive fisherman father on South Australia's lonely and beautiful Coorong coast, a pet pelican, Mr Percival, and his Aboriginal friend, Fingerbone Bill for company. Storm Boy, growing up, is forced to choose between a life of continued isolation and the challenge of the world outside.
This timeless classic Australian masterpiece did not dissapoint in the slightest. The cinematography is brilliant, the acting is great (remember this was 1976 Australia) - especially from child actor Greg Rowe (who is now all grown up and living with his wife and two kids in Canada). David Gulpilil also provides a wandering Aboriginal man mysticism to the film and he looks quite younger than in Australia but it's like he is playing the same character. A character well suited to him. The area in which it is set is just beautiful and while Storm Boy battles with his needs to see the greater world and gain an education - all I wanted to do when watching was to swap places with him.
The film supplies a lot of themes about nurturing, growing, the circle of life (thankyou Lion King), isolation, friendship and the morality of right and wrong. The battle between life in general and the life the rest of the population says we should be living.
The film is funny at times, touching, sad and inspiring and will make you want a pet pelican!!!
Pelican Trivia: 1) Mr Pelican was played by three different pelicans named Mr Proud, Mr Ponder and Mr Percival. These three pelicans were trained by Grant Noble for several months prior to filming in May 1976. 2) The pelicans lived for a time at the swimming pool of the South Australian Film Corporation. 3) In February 1976, while living at the South Australian Film Corporation's Kent Town office, actor pelican "Dum Dum" flew away and gatecrashed a nearby private party. Another time, "Dum Dum" wandered off during rush hour down Fullarton Road, Kent Town in Adelaide. A passing-by driver courageously caught the runaway actor pelican and took him to the Adelaide Zoo. 4) The three "actor" pelicans were named Dum Dum, Carpenter and Sandwich. It took 12 months to train the pelicans and Dum Dum was the most adventurous pelican to wander off or escape.
Try and get to see this one - I know Target has them for $7- and you can probably pick up at most place for same price - or rent it. One dissapointing thing about it - the DVD is a straight copy of an older print - it is not remastered, but somehow to me this added to it's age and quality - like a fine port on film. Well worth $14- (hey, that means you could buy 2 copies).
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Comment by Wilson Pon
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It's definitely a great film as you've described here, mate!
Comment by Jason King
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And thanks for commenting - didn't think anyone had read the article.