BEYOND THE WASTELAND
Australia, 2022, 92 minutes, Colour.
Bertrand Cadert.
Directed by Eddie Berouthy.
The Wasteland of the title is Mad Max territory.
This is a documentary about fandom, international fandom, not only at the time of the initial release of the film but a celebration 40 years later.
The film focuses particularly on the first Mad Max film, 1979, interviews with George Miller himself, with various actors from the original including Steve Bisley, Roger Ward, Joanne Samuel, and various people who portrayed the idiosyncratic supporting characters. There is commentary by Luke Buckmaster who wrote a book about the films. There is commentary by Alan Finney, publicist at the time.
And there are sequences from the original film, reference to the second film, The Road Warrior, a nod in the direction of the third film only, and reference to the later films focusing on Furiosa.
However, the main thrust of the documentary is a pilgrimage! The audience is introduced to Frenchman, Bertrand Cadert, who came to Australia in the 70s, found himself with a role in the original film, kept in touch, fostered the memory of the film, collected all kinds of souvenirs. Suffering from leukaemia, he decides, the doctor encouraging him, to go on this pilgrimage. With the aid of a screen map, the audience sees him drive from Queensland through western and central New South Wales to Victoria, to the town of Clunes, where many of the fans, the actors, technicians, have come to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mad Max. Those who gather our young and old, a re-creation of some of the stunts, especially a car crashing through a trailer, and enthusiasts gathering up relics to keep.
The busy camera, roaming the streets, capturing people, interviews, stunts, reminiscences… And, not forgetting the elaborate costumes and their re-creation, fans proudly wearing them.
On the way back, Bertrand visits Silverton, used for Mad Max 2. We are introduced to the owners of the pub, reminiscing about the time of the filmmaking, of other crews coming to the town, of the range of pilgrimages.
And, throughout the film, there are lengthy interviews with international fans, from France, from the US, from Italy, from Japan, seeing them in their home countries, rules and conventions, but also seeing them coming to Australia, some of them amazed at the vastness, but relishing their Mad Max experiences.
Who would have thought? Back in 1979?
