THE PLACE AT THE COAST
Australia, 1983, 93 minutes, Colour.
John Hargreaves, Tushka Bergin, Aileen Britton, Willie Fennell, Michele Fawdon, Julie Hamilton, Heather Mitchell.
Directed by George Ogilvie.
The Place at the Coast is a very pleasing evocation of the early '60s in New South Wales. The setting is a summer holiday with Bateman's Bay, Moruya settings. The focus is on a widowed doctor, played by John Hargreaves, and his teenage daughter, an attractive performance by Tushka Bergin. There are many familiar things about the holidays as the young daughter goes visiting neighbours, studying nature, keeping her art scrapbook, becoming involved in conservation issues. Her father meets an attractive neighbour returning from England after. some years, Heather Mitchell. While much of the action is predictable, it is presented with charm and insight.
There is an excellent supporting cast with many names from Australian film and television filling supporting character roles including Willie Fennell and Garry McDonald?.
The film was directed by George Ogilvie.(Short Changed, Mad Max 3 Beyond Thunderdome)
1. The impact of the film? Its gentleness and humanity?
2. The photography of the coast, the beaches and the forest, beauty? The town, holiday homes? 1961 and its period and style? Authentic atmosphere?
3. 1961 and the still-vivid memories of World War 2, of Australian relationships with England, London? A child's perspective on 1961, the change from the '50s to the '60s? Yet nostalgia for those times?
4. The title of the film (and the original title - The Bee Eater) and its reference to Ellie?
5. Audiences identifying with the situation, the holiday, travel, beauty, the coast, the six weeks' holiday, father and daughter? The memory of the crash and Ellie's memory of the death of her mother? The effect? The arrival at the coast, joy, speed and verve of Ellie, yet the memory of her mother?
6. The bond between Neil and Ellie: parent and daughter, the age difference? Going to the house, alone, the memories? Ellie and her visit to Mrs. Burroughs, friendship, the bread? Her father and his fishing? In the boat? Going to the Montgomerys? Breakfast, Julie, Bob, the bike? The town with King (Kevin) and the ride? Going to Fred and May, happiness in their garden, eating with them? Establishing Ellie in an environment of nature and people?
7. The importance of the beauty of nature, the credits and Ellie's book of leaves and descriptions? The pelicans? Margot's gift of the book? Conservation, the plan for development? The meetings? Ellie's going, Neil and Margot not going? Her upset? Her nickname of Bee Eater and Margot's nickname of Lily?
8. The portrait of Ellie: teenage, her relationship with her father, boys - Julie and the kiss, cry? Meeting Margot and sharing with her, walking? The ordinariness of life on the holiday? The Christmas dinner and the enjoyment, the singing? Her calling out and concern about conservation? her seeing the change in her fattier with Margot? The meeting and their failing to come, her anger? The reconciliation, her love for Margot? Driving away -her future?
9. Neil and his work, the death of his wife? The holiday, fishing? Nan Montgomery and school? Yelling? His opting out of the invitation? Meeting Margot, the bond between them, at home, the beer, the swim? Christmas? Talk about travel? Failing to go to the meeting? Talking plainly to Ellie? Reconciliation? Marriage?
10. May and Fred and their talk, Britain? Fussiness? May in favour of progress? Christmas and the argument? Margot and her relationship with Fred and May?
11. Margot and the talk about her, her sudden appearance, the arrival, Margot's life, talking with Ellie, the birds, sharing, her friendship with Neil, the bond, swim, visits? Care for Ellie? Not going to the meeting? The apology? Marriage?
12. The Montgomerys and Julie, going out to the pictures with Ellie, meeting King in the town? Bob and his anxiety about Julie? The kiss? King and his friendship with Ellie, talking? Youth of the town? Echoes of the '50s with motor bikes and leather? The coming '60s?
13. The Burroughs and their friendship, Mrs. Burroughs and the bread, her outburst with Neil, the weeping, the cartons? Fishing with Mr Burroughs? Christmas and the singing? Fine short sketches of real people?
14. Christmas, the coming of the family, Gran and her memories, helping Ellie? Helen and her husband, the children? The rush, the presents, the beer, the talk, the singing?
15. A glimpse of an Australian family of the past? The atmosphere of the '50s and '60s? The end of the past and the changes of the '60s? Nostalgia from the '80s?
