South Solitary: no film is an island
Director Shirley Barrett didn’t get to shoot South Solitary on her dream island, but she found that Plan B is sometimes better. Miguel Gonzalez writes.
Eight years ago Barrett stayed at the first cast concrete lighthouse in Australia, Green Cape, in southern NSW – it now provides accommodation for visitors. She was there doing research for a film she had written, about whaling in the early 1900s. Eventually Barrett came to the conclusion that it was unlikely that the project would ever be made, due to its cost and the VFX it required. Barrett then started reading copies of the lighthouse log book, which described local shipwrecks and how homing pigeons were so well fed and lovingly tended to that, when they were required to fly home, they simply refused to do it. Barrett had found a new idea for a film.
“A small group of people who have to live together in an isolated environment is interesting dramatically from a writer’s perspective, and I thought it would be fairly affordable to make,” said Barrett, who started researching life on Tasmanian ighthouses such as Maatsuyker, Tasman and Deal Islands. She was particularly interested in the time before radio communications, when staff lived in very isolated conditions.
Barret conceived South Solitary as the story of an unmarried 35-year old woman, Meredith (Miranda Otto), who arrives at a remote lighthouse island to assist her strict uncle (Barry Otto), the recentlly-appointed keeper planning on bringing some discipline to the operation. An error of judgement leaves Meredith with a withdrawn assistant (Marton Csokas) as her only companion.
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Absolutely marvellous. Have recommended to friends. Why dont we get more publicity about great Australian movies such as this, instead of all the imported rubbish doing the rounds. So happy to see our actors plauing the roles instead of overseas actors. The Otto’s and Marton Csokas were made for their roles.
This is the first Australian film I have seen in quite some time that deserved to be made; it has a great story to tell. Two very damaged characters well portrayed by Csokas and Miranda Otto; in fact all the characters in this story are flawed. Beautiful piece of work
This filmwas a surprise, in a good way. I went because I have been out to the real South Solitary Island off Coffs Harbour, however the story and script including lots of authentic almost blokey detail was satisfying. The music was marvellous and doesn’t get mentioned much elsewhere. The sounds were particularly evocative and a good match to the real thing! Four stars.
A beautiful depiction of a world where there is only just enough to sustain life and spirit that forces the characters to dig deep and find what it real for them. A delicate period piece, very well cast. Can’t help thinking we have so much we dont really need in our modern cluttered lives.
Great movie, great acting! Proud to be an Aussie. Having served from 1959-1964
on Tasmanian Lights: Maatsuyker Island, Tasman Island & Eddystone Point this movie transported me to those Islands & wonderful solitary life.
Wonderful movie I never wanted it to end. Hopefully wil try to see it again.
What great talent we have!
Armand Schepis
I saw South Solitary this week and was so impressed, as other Australian films do not impress me this one has class .I lived the whole film —- Congratulations
Brilliant movie filmed on a great location and it felt like I believe the 20/30’s were.
Csokas was superb. A great Australian movie. Thankyou.
I saw South Solitary last night and I can’t get it out of my mind. I love that sort of movie that stays with you for days. The last movie that did this for me was Disgrace which has an Australian connection too. Everyone of the characters in this movie seemed like very real people. What wonderful actors we have in this country. This movie is not for everyone but I am in the demographic that it was made for and, indeed, I loved it.
Well…I’m a (just turned) 45-year-old Perth bloke and I loved this film!. Saw it yesterday afternoon and I’m now sitting here in the following afternoon and still haunted by its windswept rythmns. The tortured aftermath of World War One is part of that…almost the unseen character on the screen. I must admit too that I love lighthouses and the isolation they necessarily bring to human lives and emotions…along with their almost naval/military culture……Congratulations Shirley Barrett you’ve crafted a both beautiful and gutsy piece of Aussie cinema and cast it beautifully. Miranda Otto is quite wonderful…Her character flawed yet never really losing my sympathy……And little Nettie…has there been a more un-nerving child performance in a long time?…….Loved the ending too .. allowed you to imagine what might be….And THAT felt GOOD!………Thankyou to all involved for another wonderful slice of home grown cinema.
Saw the film last night. Very much enjoyed it. The sort of film that stays with you. Was interested to view the website & pick up bits I had missed from the film. Also to read the background of earlier lighthouses & see the horrendous haulage at Tasman Island! Good combination of historic element & complex characters thrown together.
Wow!!!! what an experience!!on a windswept winter afternoon in Mornington Victoria! My husband and I squeezed into a packed small cinema, we couldn’t even sit together, now that’s real staying power. I had enjoyed Loves Serenade many years ago in the Riverina. So I was really curious about this movie, Otto and Csokas steal the scenes with a slow smolder. Look this film really transported us and the whole audience we were a part of OOOWing and ARHINg, back into time when life was harsher physically and emotionally. Delighted visually, I would love to see it again on a cold windy afternoon, to set the mood, we just didn’t want it to end, great films always leave an impression look forward to the next one.
I SO loved this movie. Absolutely exquisite. Brilliant cast, that precocious child just took the cake. What a little gem she is. Contrary to Margaret’s opinion I loved Meredith right to the end and still had sympathy for her despite her not very good decisions. (She reminded me of myself, maybe that’s why) Csokas as the damaged Fleet is sublime. The ending left us with hope and what more can one want. Excellent movie, can’t wait to watch it again.
Miranda Otto and Marton Csokas were brilliant together. Great cast all round. The film gave you some insight what life must have been like in the early days before communication. Congratulations on a great Australian film. We need more like this. Well done.
Lorraine D’Orsogna
Margaret River
Western Australia
I loved this movie. The idea of so much isolation,and unlikly love.
I was left wanting her to stay.
Living in Coffs Harbour I thought the movie was made on South Solitary Island in our own back yard,I was dissapointed to find that was not the case. Anyway I still enjoyed the movie
I only found this little film by an amazing co-incidence and because my Great Grandfather was a REAL head keeper, on the REAL South Solitary in the early 1900’s….well I had to be interested didn’t I? It was obviously a slight disappointment that it wasn’t filmed on the real island ( just off Coffs Harbour NSW, where everything is intact )..However, Barret and Co. have done an outstanding job grafting footage from Cape Nelson, Cape Otway and sparing amounts of CGI to create a very believable island setting…one that closely resembles the skyline silhouette of the real one….a not so small detail that those of us who know the history, really appreciated. I agree with everyone else’s comments that both Barry and especially Miranda Otto were fantastic in their roles. ALL the supporting actors were very well cast and most credible. For me though, Marton Csokas wholly OWNED his damaged WW1, Welshman …..an absolute stand-out characterization! I felt the cinematography was superb, especially considering the small format that they used ( 16mm ). The music did not dominate and yet it disappeared seamlessly into the greater whole…so it very much did its job. “She moved through the fair” being one of my all-time favourite Irish Ballads, and well chosen for the mysticism within it’s own lyrics. Well done all round !! A film that nourished me both as a movie-o-holic as well as a person with deep family connection to Light-houses.
I must give credit to ABC iview for bringing this movie forward as I catch up on the Australian classics during lockdown. I found the pace and direction hauntingly beautiful. Perfectly cast and meticulously shot, it is in my top ten Australian films. Thank you!