PETER AND POMPEY
Australia, 1987, 90 minutes, Colour.
Clayton Williamson, Lynette Curran, Paul Chubb, Amanda Muggleton.
Directed by Michael Carson, Esben Storm.
Peter and Pompey is one of the Australian Children's Film and Television Fund bicentenary series, Touch the Sun. Each state was represented and this is the Queensland film.
It is an entertaining fantasy, focusing on young schoolchildren in Queensland and the discovery of a boat and a manuscript from Roman times. The boy Pompey had written the manuscript and the youngsters in the 20th century translate it, Peter actually seeing visions of Pompey, their trying to set him free.
The film is entertaining with its picture of Queensland life, the children at school, complex family backgrounds, an ex-footballer mayor, a go-getting chef etc.
The film nicely balances the present with flashbacks to the Roman past. However, of particular interest is the encounter of the Romans with the Aborigines. At first hostile, the Romans are overcome by the Aborigines who attack them but peace is soon made and images are given of a happy harmony between newcomers to the land and the traditional settlers. Obviously, the contrast is with the coming of the British. In fact, the Aborigines look after the Romans, help them to understand and appreciate the land, care for them in their illness.
The film highlights the achievement of youngsters - in studies, in relationships, in care and concern.
1.Entertaining family film? For children? The Australian Children's Film and Television Foundation background? The bicentenary series to affirm youngsters as winners?
2.The Queensland background, the coastal town, life in the town, the cave, the boat, the flashbacks to the Romans? The Romans and the Aborigines? The musical score, the songs?
3.The title and the focus on the two boys and their bonds over the centuries? Peter and the kinship with Pompey, seeing him in the bush, in the cave? Reading his manuscript? Pompey in Peter's dreams? Pompey reaching out for somebody to free him?
4.Peter, his home life in the caravan, his mother and her ambitions to go to Brisbane, his absent father, his mother's friendship with the local policeman? At school, friendship with Meg, clashes with Wayne and fights? The teacher? His not getting the lift with Wayne's father, wandering the beach, hearing the voice, seeing Pompey? Fascinated, finding the boat? The Latin? Enlisting Meg's help? Her growing interest, their going to the cave, Wayne following them, the discovery of the boat? The secret? Meg and the translations, Peter's looking up the books, understanding what had happened to the Romans? The exile, the sacrifice to the gods, the encounter with the Aborigines, the sacrifice of the boat, Pompey and his being left by himself, the manuscript and his plea for liberation? The discovery of the boat, the mayor and the townspeople taking it over, big business and tourism, the parade in the street? Peter and his trying to learn more, the discovery that the boat must be burnt, enlisting Meg's and Wayne's help? The burning of the boat? His freeing Pompey? The bonds with Meg and Wayne, with his mother?
5.Pompey, the plausibility of the story, the exiles at the end of the world? Drifting, the sacrifice to the gods, not burning the boat? Landing, the relationship with the Aborigines, his father's illness, the attempt to burn the boat? The others hiding the boat? His illness, his writing the manuscript? Appearing in Peter's dreams? The bonds between the two? His final liberation?
6.Meg, precocious and intelligent, her father not wanting her to win at everything so that he could be elected and not intimidate people? Friendship with Peter, suspicions? Her good marks in Latin, translating Pompey's document, her growing interest? The boat, the secret? Sharing the adventure? Wayne's intervention? The discovery of the boat, her thinking everything was over - and her ambitions to edit the document? The final burning of the boat? Wayne, being pushed around by his father, spoilt, wanting to make money, following Meg and Peter, the boat, the secret? Clashes and selfishness? Victimised by his father? His helping them with the car and the burning of the boat?
7.The Romans, the Aborigines - the confrontation on the beach, the mutual fright, the Aborigines throwing spears? The growing friendship, learning to fish and hunt? The peaceful co-existence? Illnesses and the Aborigines' care? The sacred rituals, the burning of the body? The support of Pompey? An image of collaboration and cohabitation in the land?
8.The adults - with the touch of the caricature: the mayor, his football experience, not wanting to think deeply (not the Queensland way), love for his daughter, the intended marriage, his girlfriend and her being intimidated and leaving? The elections, the finding of the boat, the parade, the TV interviews? His defeat? The woman and her love for Meg? Wayne's father, the chef, his political ambitions, money? The lavish home, training Wayne in the same way - but the touch of violence? Peter's mother, the relationship with the policeman, his attitude towards Peter, the boat? The teacher and his interest in the discovery?
9.The crisis, the boat and the parade, making money, the tourist? TV interviews? The children burning the boat and freeing Pompey?
10.A pleasant blend of realism and fantasy?
