'Puberty Blues'What a start to the Australian selection? Puberty Blues is now an Australian classic (Filmed in 1981) and was controversial in it's day to say the least. I first saw this movie while in the process of applying to migrate to Australia and I have to admit that I seriously considered withdrawing my application after seeing the movie.
So why all the fuss? The movie is set in the white Australian male dominated beach culture of Greenhill beach where only the men surf and the non-surfing girls sit on the beach all day and watch and admire the surfing maneuvers of their male heroes. The only maneuvers the girls are expected to perform are to undress when required by the men, lie down and wait until it's all over (what a life). There must be more to female life and two of the girls realise this, making the daring move off the beach and into the surf with a surfboard to make a stand. Watch the movie and see what happens when they do.Puberty Blues is a fun and entertaining snapshot of a masculine, mono-cultural Australia, far removed from the more open and free society of today. The movie gives an opportunity to reflect on how far Australian society has come in terms of equality, opportunity and tolerance. Check out this web link for an interview with Kathy Lette who co-wrote the novel http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_in_time/Transcripts/s780748.htm
Directed by-Bruce Beresford
Written by-
- Gabrielle Carey
- Margaret Kelly
- Kathy Lette
- Nell Schofield
- Jed Capelja
- Geoff Rhoe
Released 1981
PJ
PJ
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