Heroes' Mountain

There wasn't anything new that could be done with a disaster story. It's a dramatisation of an actual event after all. But it was extraordinary to "see" the story behind what we all read in the newspapers and heard in TV broadcasts.

The direction was good, the story told well and acted very well. It was good to see Craig McLachlan in something again, and Nadine Garner.

Well worth a look.

This is an amazing film, and it really captures the feeling of what happened on that day in 1997. The film focuses on the rescue workers and their tireless struggle to help save any life that may have survived. A great Australian cast, and Craig MacLachlan is perfect for the role of Stuart Diver. A must see for anyone who remembers the Thredbo snowslide, and a good dramatic watch for those who don't.

When I first heard that the Thredbo disaster would be made into a telefeature, I was a little skeptical, envisaging similar American "based on true story" telethrillers which have plagued Channel 7's midday movie timeslot for years. But HEROES' MOUNTAIN was very good: Andrikidis obviously was aware that the tragedy and incredible rescue was not five years old in people's minds, and obviously the relatives of those who died might be watching. It was made in co-operation with survivor Stuart Diver, so it was never going to be sensationalised. However, I reckon it could have been a miniseries, with the second episode getting into the aftermath and investigations (ala DAY OF THE ROSES) and Diver's remarkable recovery and his amazing media run, which included being a part of Channel 7's commentary team for winter sports. McLachlan is in just about his best role to date, and everyone else performs admirably to create a film that is definitely not easy to watch (claustrophobes beware), but is important. 7/10.

When the landslide happened the last thing on anyone's mind was that 5 years down the track we would be watching the same event's unfolding before our eyes being replayed in a telemovie.

Craig McLaughlin as Stewart Diver is an interesting choice but he does the role justice. The only problem is that he doesn't look the role because everyone in Australia has seen Stuart Diver's face in the paper 100 times over and would instantly know him if they passed him in the street.

This event in Australian history is like our Kennedy assassination... everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when it happened. I remember spending 3 days glued to the television and been drawn to tears when Stuart Diver's face rose out of the rubble. Truly amazing.

I give this movie a 7 out of 10 because it is so accurate in detail that you almost think you are looking at the real thing but a lot of detail is left out in the final product.

Premiered last night on Aussie Television (March 10th) and was indeed worth the wait.

As sensitively and professionally re-enacted as THE DAY OF THE ROSES (The story of the '74 Granville Train Disaster), which John Misto also scripted incidentally, HEROES' MOUNTAIN portrays the events leading up to the shocking deaths of 18 people in July 1997, trapped in a landslide in the southern NSW snowfields at Thredbo village, a few hours south of Canberra, the Australian Capital.

The docudrama focuses primarily on the fortitude and incredible will to live by sole survivor Stuart Diver, as well as the ceaseless rescue efforts by so many, to finally extricate him after an unimaginable 65 hours trapped beneath mud, concrete and icy water. Diver also lost his wife that day when she was trapped in adjacent buildings.

McLachlan turns in what is probably his best celluloid effort as Stuart Diver, acting under uniquely difficult circumstances. Word is that he was overcome emotionally at several points during filming, being unable to move himself under the elaborate and realistic sets. Being visible for the most part only from the neck upwards, necessitated extraordinary facial acting to project the real Diver's predicament.

Whilst the set was constructed 1/3 larger than the original collapsed site (to allow for cameras and crew) each rock, girder and piece of wreckage was painstakingly reproduced from original photographs and filed news coverage. Many on-set who were present during the original rescue (including Diver himself) were said to be amazed at the authenticity of the recreation.

An absolute must-see wherever it is shown!