DEVIL'S HILL

Australia, 1988, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Esben Storm.

Devil's Hill is one of the Touch the Sun series, produced by the Australian Children's Film and Television Foundation. It was designed for the Australian bicentenary. This was the contribution from Tasmania.

The setting is 1950, the hills and mountains in Tasmania. It focuses on two brothers, one ambitious to clear ground and raised cattle, the other sceptical of his efforts. The children, cousins, come together and go out into the bush to search for a bull. Their antagonism falls away and they are bonded together in the adventure. They also contribute to the possibility of their father's success.

The film was directed by Esben Storm (his films range from the serious 27A to the comic Stanley and the thriller Deadly). The children perform well - the adults are merely in the background. Of advantage is the attractive location colour photography of Tasmania.

1. Entertaining family film? For children?

2. The Tasmanian locations, the mountains, the river, the beauty? The ruggedness? The musical score?

3. The title, the young boy telling the story about Devil's Hill, the children going out on the expedition, their experiences in the bush, bonding them together?

4. The young boy and his father, working together, the building of the bridge, the hopes for the cattle? For prosperity? Bringing the letter from his mother? The father having to go out into the bush to search for the cattle? Linc and his coming with his children, the antagonism between the two brothers? Linc wanting the family to take his children while his wife was in hospital? The brothers arguing about success and farming?

5. The young boy, his relationship with his father, taking his cousins, the friendship with the two girls, the continued clash with Sam? The mouth organ and the marble - and Sam throwing it away and the boy saving it? At home with his mother, plans for school, homework? The work around the house, their going out together with their mother to search? Mother going back, the children going on, the adventures, in the bush, helping on another, finding the bull? Bringing it home, the achievement?

6. Bron, Shep, Sam? Their sick mother, their love for their father? Their not wanting to go to their cousins? No radio! Sam and his antagonism? Tormenting the young boy? Helping with the washing-up, playing tricks? Going out on the expedition, his comeuppance, his mellowing, the bonds between the children? The girls, in the house, with the boys, out on the expedition?

7. The mother, the hardships in isolation, love for her husband, for her son? Managing the household? Compassion? Educating Sam? Working with the girls? Going out on the search with the children?

8. The presentation of the Tasmanian countryside, the natural beauty, the farms and the cattle, people trying to make a living?