NFSA Restores Collection: 'Bliss'

Ray Lawrence's Bliss, adapted from Peter Carey's novel, remains one of the most idiosyncratic and controversial items in Australian film history. Adrian Danks' brilliantly researched article offers a fascinating account of the uproar it caused at Cannes and the largely hostile critical reaction it initially met with. Generically unclassifiable and utterly at odds with the Australian film output at the time, it nevertheless experienced some critical and box-office turnaround when it won several AFI awards, including for Best Film, in 1985. Danks charts its remarkable history with impressive detail and eloquent readability.

Additional keywords:
Barry Otto, Lynette Curran, Helen Jones, Cannes Film Festival, David Stratton, Anthony Buckley, New South Wales Film Corporation, NSWFC, Commonwealth Film Censorship Board, Fred Schepisi, Yandina, Greater Union, Hoyts, 10BA, Ronin Films, surrealism, black comedy, Brazil, Paul Byrnes