Film Review - Picnic at Hanging Rock

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 film directed by Peter Weir. The film is about a group of school girls as they go on a school trip to have a picnic at hanging rock. A few of the girls as well as one of the teachers go missing and only one is later found. The film was based on a book written by Joan Leslie in 1967.

Figure 1 - Movie Poster

In the novel the story was shown 'as fiction but hinted that it might be based on fact.' (Ebert, 1998). This presentation led to people believing the events had happened and as such 'old newspapers and other records were searched without success for reports of disappearing schoolgirls.' (Ebert, 1998). This could be due to people not having experienced stories presented as fact before or conversely due to people desiring to find an answer to the mystery left in the story.

Figure 2- The Rock

Theories of what happened to the girls ranges from UFO's to kidnappings, though there is no real answer. Some theorise that the rock itself may have taken the girls, which is supported by the way 'Russell Boyd's camera examines the rock in lush and intimate detail -- its snakes and lizards, its birds and flowers -- certain shots seem to suggest faces in the rock, as if the visitors are being watched.' (Ebert, 1998). This is particularly noticeable when people are climbing amongst the rock, first with the girls and later with the two boys that look for them. Another factor supporting this theory is that the girls themselves seem helpless to stop climbing the rock. The four of them keep climbing as if drawn to the rock, even when the know the should be heading back. The exception to this is Edith, the seemingly youngest of the group, who frequently requests they go back and doesn't want to climb any higher. This is then brought to a head as 'Edith, the young and geeky member of the group, watches her companions shuffle off like robots, as if they're being led by a supernatural force.' (Buckmaster, 2014). Edith is then seen fleeing and the girls are never seen again.

The music in the film creates an interesting atmosphere around the rock. This is due to the low, humming, buzz the rock gives off when close to it. The sound itself starts of almost subtly, with less menace as the girls climb. However when the boys try to find them the sound of the rock is loud and insistent, pressing down on the senses and screaming danger, This is all in stark contrast to the more cheery panpipe music that plays throughout the rest of the film. As scenes are shown of the students and teacher travelling to the rock, and of the rock itself, 'Music, some of it classical, played by panpipes, is an unsettling contrast.' (Ebert, 1998).

Bibliography:

Buckmaster, L, (2014), Picnic at Hanging Rock: Rewatching classic Australian films - https://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/2014/jan/23/picnic-hanging-rock-rewatching-australian-films

Ebert, R, (1998), Picnic at Hanging Rock - http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-picnic-at-hanging-rock-1975

Image List:

Figure 1 - Movie Poster - http://www.impawards.com/1975/posters/picnic_at_hanging_rock_ver1.jpg

Figure 2 - The Rock - https://neithernevernor.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/picnichangingrock.png?w=676&h=411