Night

This is an awesomely beautifully photographed and edited documentary filmed in Australian cities like Sydney and Melbourne with some rural and desert diversions. The imagery explores night time and its enjoyment and reaction to Australians of all ages. Created by Lawrence Johnston who directed the exquisite personal documentary ETERNITY over 10 years ago, NIGHT is a visual triumph, a sort of Australian BARAKA with an emotional symphony music score that matches the scrapbook of sequences very well. The only unnecessary additions to this wonderful film are 30-somethings as talking heads telling us about their personal experiences of night (dreams included) when their unseen narration over the incredible scenes would have done just fine, and late in the film when a 9/11 shot of the twin towers is included which weirdly is the only day shot in the film. I really found this to be an emotionally enthralling documentary and came from the screening quite overwhelmed. Johnston and his team including the composer and photographer and especially editor are to be applauded. This film along with the Vivaldi documentary '4' released late last year has seen talented Australian film makers offer truly exceptional humane documentaries deserving of many awards and huge ticket-sales. If NIGHT or 4 come anywhere near you, I advise you to run to get a ticket. ... and track down ETERNITY.

When this movie was first released about 12 months ago it had only a very limited distribution along the eastern seaboard, and never came out in Perth. I was annoyed with this because many of the reviews had been quite glowing.

SBS TV, after much fanfare, broadcast Night late yesterday evening. I had waited so long to see this, and when it was over I felt rent asunder.

The pluses. The cinematography was, in some places, so good I couldn't credit that I was seeing it and still be awake. Unlike many overseas movies (of all types) I was looking at locations that I had personally visited, or even grown up in, but looking at them through completely fresh eyes. There were very few BADLY shot interludes. Some were pretty bland and perhaps over-long, but only by seconds.

I thought the most spectacular view was the show with the aerial artists floating under "balloons". A dreamscape if ever there was one.

The music an excellent complement for the most part but there were one or two jarring elements.

Now for the negative, and a BIG negative. The totally irritating interviews and voice overs. These ruined the film for me utterly. Some of the comments were downright inane.

It seemed as if the maker was trying to plough two different furrows simultaneously and succeeding in neither. As a documentary, it lacked depth both in any sort of story and interaction with the characters. But as an "art-flick" it was spoiled by the intrusive interviews.

If this movie is ever released onto DVD could the director PLEASE offer an alternative soundtrack WITHOUT the voice overs.

I don't think I could watch this movie again, at least with the sound on, and that means I would miss the music which was so integral to whole experience.

Cannot recommend it in its present form.