In the lecture we screened a short film called ‘End of the Line’ – the film shot in Broken Hill.
Please describe in 300 words or less if you think they achieved what they set out to do.
You may not remember much detail, if so, it could be helpful to talk about your first impressions, after all this is what most of us are left with after one viewing. The treatment which we showed in the lecture is available here.
My first impressions of End of the Line are that it has successsfully portrayed the life in outback. I very much like the red tone of the landscape shots which gives a sense of the place. This red tone makes Broken HIll look strange and frightening; it is wearing down. Yet, I do not feel that filmmakers have captured the ‘beauty and magnificence of the outback’as mentioned in the treatment provided. The film has rather presented a feeling of completely isolation and depressing environment with its selection of participants. Especially the old woman, she says that she moves to live in Broken Hill to die; followed by the shot of desolate, rugged land. This further emphasise the emptiness of Broken Hill as well as the dissociation from civilisation. Her story is best fit in the film. It makes the idea of living in the outback very unsettling to me. Besides, there is no narration along the film. I guess with only the people living in Broken Hill carry the narrative, it becomes more intimating and the story of the people involves close connection with audience. I also remember the three guys being interviewed at night. They look shy and embarrassed so they laugh at each other. They have not said much stuff but they are impressing. They show that the happiness in Broken Hill is so simple which probably based on them not knowing anything.