Kodak/Atlab Cinema Collection

Jack (Bill Hunter) and Gary (Gary Foley) are arrested by the police

Backroads (1977)

A new 16mm print of this film is now available on request. Courtesy of Phillip Noyce and Kodak (Australasia) and Atlab Australia

National Film and Sound Archive National Collection
Title Number 4507.

Classification: R rating

Synopsis

Phillip Noyce's first feature film, Backroads, takes us on a vivid journey into the remote corners of white responsibility for black despair in Australia. Gary, a young aborigine and Jack, the ocker drifter embark on a seemingly aimless journey to escape the vacuum of their former lives.

Background

The film combines elements of the road movie and the buddy flick with a cinema verite style shot by cinematographer Russell Boyd. It was the first feature film in which Aborigines made a creative contribution (other than acting). Screenplay was by John Emery with additional material from director and cast.

"Some parts of our cultural heritage are able to withstand the passage of time. Unfortunately colour film prints can simply disappear before our eyes, fading to ghost-like images that bear no resemblance to their original form, as I discovered for myself last year when screening a print of my 1977 film "Backroads". ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive, Kodak and Atlab have all taken a significant step towards preserving Australia's vanishing past for future generations to see."

Phillip Noyce, Director & Producer

Director
Phillip Noyce

Year of Production 1977
Duration 61 minutes
Format 16mm, Colour
Optical Soundtrack Mono

Production Company
Backroads Productions

Producer
Phillip Noyce

Screenplay
John Emery

Director of Photography
Russell Boyd

Editor
David Huggett

Sound Recordist
Lloyd Carrick

Music
Robert Murphy

Cast
Bill Hunter (Jack)
Gary Foley (Gary)
Zac Martin (Joe)
Terry Camilleri (Jean-Claude)
Julie McGregor (Anna)

Further Information

Visit Senses of Cinema for analysis of Backroads: