PASSION

Australia, 1999, 103 minutes, Colour.
Barbara Hershey, Richard Roxburgh, Emily Woof, Claudia Karvan, Simon Burke, Julia Blake, Linda Cropper.
Directed by Peter Duncan.

Passion is a story about composer and pianist Percy Grainger. Grainger had a strong reputation for collecting English folk songs and his own compositions. He was also a talented concert pianist. He is also remembered for his proclivity for masochism in his relationships, especially whipping himself and his partner. There was also criticism of his relationship with his mother, the dominant Rose. The end of the film indicates that Rose committed suicide in New York City, throwing herself from a building, because of insinuations about incest. The screenplay makes it very clear that this was not the case, and that Rose herself was concerned about Percy's masochism and wanted him to marry a loving wife.

Peter Duncan directed the satire Children of the Revolution as well as the variation on the Faustian theme, A Little Bit of Soul. Richard Roxburgh was the son of Judy Davis in Children of the revolution. He gives a blend of manic intensity as well as ordinary common sense in his performance as Percy Grainger. Barbara Hershey is Rose. Emily Woof is Karen, the Danish woman who had a relationship with Grainger but could not marry him. In support at Claudia Karvan and Simon Burke as a Danish couple, friends of Percy.

The film focuses on the years 1914-1915. It opens in Australia. However, Percy and Rose, with Rose managing his career, find that they have more opportunity for performance and reputation in England.

The film also focuses on Grainger's masochism - leading it to later in the film to give it some perspective in his whole life and outlook.

The film might be judged as not particularly passionate. However, it is beautifully photographed, gives an interesting insight into a genius and his torment. The film was based on a play by Rob George and an original screenplay by Rob George and Peter Goldsworthy. The screenplay was written by the historian, Don Watson.

1. The impact of passion? The portrait of a composer and pianist? Early 19th century atmosphere? Genius? Eccentricity? Perversion?

2. The Australian locations, the London settings, Bath, the British countryside and coast? The costumes and decor of the period?

3. The range of music, Grainger's own compositions, his collecting songs in the British countryside? The Grieg performances?

4. The opening: Percy in the Australian setting, in the countryside, playing the 'Londonderry Air', the opera singer singing at the railway station? The concerts? Percy and the possibilities of a career in Australia?

5. Percy and Rose in London, his career, performances? Rose and her management of Percy? The intensity of their relationship, at home, in public?

6. Percy and his friendship with Hiltrud? In love with her? His scatty behaviour, exposing himself at the window, on the bike ride, proposing to her? Her rejecting of him? His later criticism of her mocking him? Herman and his friendship? The group and their musical performances? Danish background?

7. Percy and his performance for Queen Alexandra? The society patrol? His sexual relationship with her? Her later coming to Bath pretending to be his mother? His denunciation of her? The later meeting between her and Rose? Her strong speaking of the truth about their relationship, Percy's growth?

8. Percy and his practice, his pupils, performances? The build-up to the Grieg concert and his unwillingness to play? His ordinary life, listening to the barrow boy and getting him to do his cry? Recording the songs in the inns? Touring and collecting the songs and editing them?

9. Herman and Hiltrud, married, introducing Percy to Karen? The friendship, her admiration for him? Falling in love with him? The relationship? Rose and her seeming suspicions, yet her support of Karen marrying Percy? Sharing much together? Percy and his inability to love? His comment on lust and affection? His telling the truth about his masochism? Her agreeing to it: the whippings, the photos? Her willingness to marry him, his unwillingness? The Grieg performance, coming home, his inability to commit himself, her leaving?

10. Rose in herself, her background, her only son? The revelation that she suffered from syphilis? The mental disturbance? Psychological and emotional manifestations? Physical illness and weakness? The truth about her husband, his coming to the concert, the note for Percy, Percy visiting him and declaring his love for him, the father's cowardice, especially about his illness and communicating it to his wife? Rose's continual deterioration, yet her supervision of Percy? Their love, his deeming it platonic and natural? Her dominance, her wanting success for her only son? Her guilt about her illness? Her collapse, never recovering, yet her satisfaction in his success? The tragedy of the postscript about her suicide?

11. Percy and his being in Australia, his sense of freedom? The decision to go to America, spending forty years in the United States, marrying, a more conventional life? His musical achievement?

12. The portrait of a pianist and genius? Talent and its demands? Maturity and immaturity? Dominance? Love, sexuality? Sadism? The status of Percy Grainger in world music?