Rosaleen Norton (1917-1979) flourished in Australia in the 1950s and 60s as a much-censored artist and alleged witch. This film attempts an occult mood with only partial success. The candles, interpretative dances on a small stage, and music choices are banal. But the dancer who depicts Norton does resemble her, and the photos and art works are of a much better quality than in Nevill Drury's biography. As in the book, there's little critical objectivity. Did Norton genuinely believe she travelled across astral planes to commune with Pan and Hecate, or was she generally playing up to the media? (There's a photo of her happily donning a pointed witch's hat for a photo op). And was her art any good? In book and film they look more like illustrations. Bottom line, however, is that Norton's story is fascinating, perhaps the more so because until quite recently it was little known outside Australia. Norton and one of her lovers, none other than the British classical conductor Sir Eugene Goossens, were the victims of almost Victorian (and I don't mean the Australian state) censorship. Goossens' career was destroyed and (not mentioned here) he was given no credit for conceiving the idea of Sydney Opera House. Norton's art was blacked out and burned and she was jailed. It's only right and proper that we should know more about this fearless bohemian. I'll be writing more about her soon on the brilliant blog The Reprobate.
