ZONE 39

Australia, 1996, 95 minutes, Colour.
Peter Phelps, Carolyn Bock, William Zappa, Bradley Byquar, Alex Menglet, Jeff Kovski.
Directed by John Tatoulis.

A local attempt to make a serious futuristic drama where society and communication are dominated by faceless corporations. A lone soldier (Peter Phelps in a frantic and aggro performance) and his dead wife (brought back by hallucinogenic chemicals) do battle with the authorities out in the desert. More interesting in ideas than execution, although John Tatoulis has been able to create a credible and sometimes sinister atmosphere. Grim future.

1.Futuristic plot? Science fiction? Science fantasy? The influence of the Mad Max genre?

2.The desert locations, dry and hot, barren? The farming fields with the mines? The buildings for Central Union, civilization? Technology and surveillance? The zone outposts, the forts? The musical score?

3.The background of the drug, Novan? Leo and his using it for support, the picturing of his hallucinations, the presence of Anne?

4.The pessimism in the scenario: government control, unable to maintain it, the industrialists and their power, banding together, forming Central Union? Surveillance, data? The place of individuals? Society, wealth? Victims?

5.Leo and Anne, the happy couple, audience sympathy for them, Anne’s pregnancy?

6.Anne and her work, her skills, her challenge to Tito? Her decision about the information? Her death, the subway shooting? Leo, the news, his grief?

7.Leo, his friendship with Seaton, his situation, Seaton arranging him to volunteer? Going to isolation with his grief, Zone 39? Taking to Novan, recreating his memories? The enemy across the land, the stray people in the forbidden zone? His review of his life, his perspective on the decaying world?

8.The military zones, the outposts, Padgett and his staffing the enemy outpost? The change with Boas arriving?

9.Leo, using the drug, living in his mind, the questions about the situation, his world view unravelling? A new phase?

10.Padgett, Boas, Boas becoming an ally, the revelation of the truth? Going into action?

11.The message of this kind of futuristic science fiction film, critique of government and industry, surveillance and the Big Brother mentality?