FROG DREAMING

Australia, 1986, 93 minutes, Colour.
Henry Thomas, Tony Barry, Rachel Friend, Tamsin West, John Ewart.
Directed by Brian Trenchard Smith.

Frog Dreaming is a pleasing family film. It was written by Everett de Roche, writer of a number of horror thrillers for the Australian industry including Patrick, Harlequin, Razorback. It was directed by expert action director Brian Trenchard Smith (Man From Hong Kong, Death Cheaters, Stunt Rock, Jenny Kissed Me).

It takes the aboriginal theme of the Dreamtime and creates its own mythology for a part of the Victorian forest area. Henry Thomas (E.T., Cloak and Dagger, Misunderstood) was imported to be the young hero (thus giving the film international appeal). There is a strong Australian supporting cast led by Tony Barry.

Aborigines are presented sympathetically, in the Australian towns as well as in settlements. With the focus on the dreaming and the respect for aborigines, there is also an awareness for audiences of the mystic elements of aboriginal lore. There are some good special effects - especially the revelation of the monster in the pond at the end.

1. An entertaining family film? International audiences?

2. The bush locations and their use, an environment for characters and plot? The country town and its lifestyle? The pond and its beauty, mystery? The atmosphere of beauty and terror? The importance of the insertion of so much Australian flora and fauna?

3. The musical score? The importance of the special effects: the prologue, the experience of the fisherman, the terror with Donkajin, the underwater photography, the focus on the frogs and the silence, the home of the monster - and the return to the underwater photography at the end?

4. The presentation of the aborigines and their atmosphere of mystery? The stunt work - especially the bike-riding? The editing, pace and excitement and mystery? The story of an Australian country town, the people, the bush, the miners, the aborigines?

5. The prologue and its effect, the camera emerging from underwater, the frogs, the pond, the fisherman and his isolation, the devices for atmosphere, fear and death? The children and the discovery of the pond and audience anticipation of their confrontation with the monster?

6. Henry Thomas as Cody - the credibility of the American orphan in the Australian bush? His relationship to Gaz? A young boy and his life in the town, friendships, the other children, their parents? The importance of the bike-ride and his speed, the daring, the crowd, the police, his accident and his being saved? His friendship with Wendy - pleasant youngsters, visits, the dance? The picnic? The experience of the pond, the girls drifting out and his swimming to save them? The skeleton? The search of the area? The visit to Charlie Pride, his relationship with the aborigines, Gaz's wise advice to listen to them? The return, the preparations to dive, his being trapped, the rescue? The revelation of Donkajin? His Confrontation of the monster, a rite of initiation, his return to the pond, seeing Charlie Pride, a sense of vision? A new ability to see? The opening out of his life and the future?

7. Gaz and his care of Cody, his work, concern, the rescue? Relationship with the police and the other people in the town? Wendy's father and the contrast with Gaz? His fussiness and protectiveness? His wife and her love for her children, protective? Their mischievous scaring of her? The sketch of parents and the fears and love of adults? The sketch of the girls - friendly, their enjoying Cody's company, the bike-ride, the visit to the pond, their being grounded, the cheeky young girl and her scaring her mother, her smart quips? Wendy and her visit to Cody, sharing his experience, leading people to rescue him?

8. The portrait of the aborigines in the town: men at work, around the town, at the, dance? Travelling throughout the bush? The group at the coast? The aboriginal village?

9. Aboriginal lore, myths - and the dreaming? The white snide remarks about abos and blackfellers? Gaz and his teaching Cody respect? Cody learning the myths and sharing in them?

10. The importance of aboriginal myths for aborigines. for whites in Australia? The possibility of sharing them? The invented myth for this film and its plausibility, reality, symbolism?

11. Donkajin and the climax, the suggestions of a monster, the special effects? The meaning of the Frog Dreaminq myth?

12. A film for young Australians, for family audiences, for enjoyment, mirroring of society - and inviting audiences to reflect and learn?