Rencontre d'une nuit

I only came across this after hearing of the passing of Saskia Post. It's a nice snapshot of how Sydney used to look in the 1980s, with footage of the Opera House & Sydney Harbour & nearby streets as well as Martin Place train station, and a full performance by Midnight Oil of their famous song Short Memory is nice to see. It may be a bit factually inaccurate with the nuclear fallout, and the acting is a bit basic, but it's an interesting enough story of how a small group of people would react in an unexpected situation, starting off in optimistic denial until the reality of the situation sets in. Watch out around the 5-minute mark for a cameo from former Crowded House drummer Paul Hester as a naval officer.

I saw this movie when I was a teenager and could never remember the title. The story line stuck with me though. Recently stumbled across it on Amazon Prime when they licensed a heap of eighties, nineties and naughties content. YaY I now know the name of it. It is a great movie for the time period in which it was produced.

I saw this film in the late 1980s on the local uhf television station. I think this film is what piqued my interest in Australian films. I have thought about this film from time to time and have looked for it but to no avail.

This may not be a masterpiece but the film is rather enjoyable. The setting takes place near a stage while on the world stage we are made aware some nuclear powers are waging war.

The world is not over yet and you sense the realization the end is near has not completely sunk in but there is a sadness or sense of imminent loss.

I really like the fact that the actors looked like ordinary people and like ordinary people they responded to the news in an ordinary way as perhaps a person in their late teens or early twenties would. It is a rude awakening to the harshness of life but somehow the characters manage to make the most of it.

This film does not appear to be on dvd or vhs but I hope it becomes available soon. It is sad that teen movies today seem to lack distinction.

Four young people, hiding after dark in the Sydney Opera House, learn that nuclear war has been declared in Europe and Central America, with US bases in Australia targeted. Faced with the prospect that life as they know it may have ended forever, they must come to terms with their feelings for each other. As with many non-action Apocalyptic films, it tends to drag a little: there was an excellent opportunity to really explore the characters, but what we have is little more than light conversation. A strong finish almost makes up for the weak first hour...and who else found the American sailor character annoying? At least there's a (rather extended) Midnight Oil clip to keep us going. Rating: 6/10. See also: ON THE BEACH (1959), ON THE BEACH (2000) (mini), and also read Nevil Shute's novel, ON THE BEACH.

This film has all the hallmarks of an early nineties indie movie. Small cast (four people). Single locale (the Sydney Opera house). Single plot thrust (the end of the world). But look at the date. 1984. So when John Hughes was messing about with teen - movies and the USA thought Tootsie was one of the greatest films of all time, Oz had greater concerns. Almost creating its own genre - the pre-apocalyptic movie - this film deftly shows what would actually happen in case of such an emergency. Nothing much. People would still go on dates. They'd probably hang out. Some sex might go on. Then everyone might die. What's so lovely about this film, is that they are real people. You can't really tell them apart. They don't have stereotypes. In fact only the navy officer really stands out. We like them because they are like us. If I was in that situation, I'd probably go a bit stir crazy. If you happen to see this film around, do go see - if nothing else you get to see what the Sydney Opera House looks like at night when everyone's gone home . . .