On Thursday 11th October 2018 we met to discuss Nigel’s “Descent Into Hell” (aka “Aussie Noir”) theme
BOOK: Wake In Fright (1961) by Kenneth Cook
Wake In Fright was praised to the hilt by everyone
BOOK: Wake In Fright (1961) by Kenneth Cook
Wake In Fright was praised to the hilt by everyone
A mere 174 pages it packs a mighty punch. Written in 1961, it powerfully relates John Grant's descent into hell, here also known as outback town Bundanyabba ("the Yabba"). The people of the Yabba feel compelled to subsume any outsiders into their world. The ghastly hospitality of the local yokels provide the guileless fish-out-of-water John Grant with the worst days of his short life and from which he is powerless to escape.
'Wake In Fright' delivers a vivid sense of place - the heat, the light, the dust, the savagery, and the scale - are all powerfully rendered.
In the same way that once seen David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet' is never forgotten, so it with 'Wake In Fright'. There are some extraordinary scenes - truly horrific and nightmarish despite the banal and all too plausible set up. The outback is shown in all its weirdness - stark, hallucinogenic and brutal.
'Wake In Fright' delivers a vivid sense of place - the heat, the light, the dust, the savagery, and the scale - are all powerfully rendered.
In the same way that once seen David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet' is never forgotten, so it with 'Wake In Fright'. There are some extraordinary scenes - truly horrific and nightmarish despite the banal and all too plausible set up. The outback is shown in all its weirdness - stark, hallucinogenic and brutal.
Tristan 7/10 - Nick 7/10 - Keith 8/10 - Roland 9/10 - Nigel 10/10 - Robin 7/10
FILM: Wake In Fright (1971)
FILM: Wake In Fright (1971)
The film adapation was also a bit hit with the denizens of HBG. It was directed by Ted Kotcheff and is a very powerful and faithful rendition of the book. Some parts of the plot are condensed but the essence remains.
The kangaroo hunt is especially powerful and even more disturbing when depicted on the screen. The darkness of the trip is given even more violence in the film version with the hard drinking macho camaraderie and the disturbing homoerotic undertow writ large.
Apparently, upon release, the Australian critics were appalled as it paints such a horrifying portrait of life in the isolation of the Outback. Once seen never forgotten. The Australian outback seems to be unwelcoming at best, but it has surely never been depicted as grimmer, darker and more violent than in this depiction.
Apparently, upon release, the Australian critics were appalled as it paints such a horrifying portrait of life in the isolation of the Outback. Once seen never forgotten. The Australian outback seems to be unwelcoming at best, but it has surely never been depicted as grimmer, darker and more violent than in this depiction.
A classic film - every bit as good as the source material.
MUSIC: The Birthday Party - The Bad Seed EP (1983)
Nigel had identified two key tracks - Sonny’s Burning + Deep In The Woods - which epitomise the “Descent Into Hell” (aka “Aussie Noir”) theme
Curiously the music was less celebrated than the other two choices. Nigel was steadfast in his love of these key tracks which capture the moment when Nick Cave metamorphosed from Birthday Party to solo artist. Still, not everyone can enjoy Nigel’s impeccable taste.
Nigel had identified two key tracks - Sonny’s Burning + Deep In The Woods - which epitomise the “Descent Into Hell” (aka “Aussie Noir”) theme
Curiously the music was less celebrated than the other two choices. Nigel was steadfast in his love of these key tracks which capture the moment when Nick Cave metamorphosed from Birthday Party to solo artist. Still, not everyone can enjoy Nigel’s impeccable taste.
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| Nigel - impeccable taste |
ENDORSE IT
American Animals (film)
Lincoln in the Bardo (book)
Mystery Road (BBC TV series)
Factfulness (book)
Molotov Jukebox (Pop group)
Reported Misgiving (TV)
Money Heist (Netflix)
Journeyman (film)
Snow Country (book)
And so ended another wonderful evening of cultural discourse and bonhomie
