Kangaroo Palace
1997, 200 minutes, Rated M
During the 1960's, thousands of young Australians left teh largest island-continent in the world for a speck of land on the other side of the globe - London. They still do. For many, the experience proved the turning point of their lives. Away from the watchful eyes of their parents and conservative Australia, these young 'colonials' tasted the best and worst of all Britain had to offer.
Catherine, Richard, Jack and Heather grew up in a country led by a Prime Minister who viewed his people as a race in exile - England was always the 'Mother Country'. From markedly different backgrounds, the four share the common dream of escape and head to the home of the Beatles, the Stones, the fasion industry, the Pill and all-night clubs. For all of them it is a confrontation with sex, destiny, love, failure and varying degrees of 'success'. It is also a direct encounter with their 'Australian-ness' as they come up against people and a culture, which confronts and challenges them.
For Cathering, England is also a headlong collision with reality. It is not the land of her childhood dreams and she is forecd to reinvent herself, to the point where almost anything seems possible. Richard, fated to fall deeply in love with Catherine, always seems half a step behind her. Although he travels abroad as an innocent, the decision to leave Australia marks the beginning of controlling his own future.
Heather heads overseas for a final fling before the predictability of marriage to her long-term fiance. Her objective is to seduce as many men as she can before settling down to motherhood in the country town she belongs to - heart and soul. And, although Jack is a promiscuous and guiltess as Heather, his behaviour is driven by much darker forces.
Although 'Kangaroo Palace' centres on tehse four, their experiences will be common to the masses of Australians who have made, and are still making the pilgrimage to new shores overseas and an insight for those who wish they had.
- Director:
- Starring:
- Jacqueline McKenzie [29], John Polson [14], Jeremy Sims [18], Rebecca Gibney [44], Josephine Byrnes [19], Alison Whyte [28],
- Screen Formats:
- Full Frame 1.33:1
- Language and Sound:
- English Dolby Digital Stereo
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