Night (ATOM Study Guide)

Night captures the essence of our lives between dusk and the dawn of a new day.

It is a unique cinematic feature that is both a documentary and art film. It will appeal to students aged sixteen and above because of its contemporary images and themes, many of them seen through the eyes of young people. The film explores the universal nature of night and how we experience it. It is quintessentially Australian in its depiction of people and places, urban and rural. It is structured around sequences that create a rhythm and are enhanced by a dramatic symphonic score, jazz and modern songs. Part of the intense experience of the film is also created through voices from all walks of life who share their experiences of night. Some of these fellow Australians speak to us directly on camera; other voices are woven into the rich tapestry of the images and themes. Night is a celebration of art, sport, work, play, sleep, dreams and landscapes of night, some of them full of fear, others of wonder.

The film explores the pleasures of night and its mythic qualities from looking at the moon and stars to enjoying entertainment, family and friends. The film celebrates night as a time for birthdays, anniversaries, dinners, family outings, sporting events, fireworks, the movies, travel, love and sex.

It is also an expose of the fears we feel at night, particularly in the city where crime is a problem, loneliness and nightmares. Young voices describe how clubbing and drinking are fun but dangerous when they lead to drunkenness. Images of dark alleyways, and reminders that lights in cities are relatively new, remind us that night has not always been a time for social events and going out.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of Night is that it can be viewed on several levels: as an entertainment that is rich in sensory experiences, as a social commentary and as a work of art that has been superbly crafted.