Kangaroo

1986 1h 48m EN

👍

7.3

SOLID

⭐

6.2

IMDB

★7.3TMDB · 3★6.2IMDB · 275

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A mild-mannered English conscientious objector moves to what he feels will be the relative calm of Australia after World War I, but gets caught in the middle of violent battles between the rising trade unions and fascist groups.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Colin Friels
Richard Somers
Judy Davis
Harriet Somers
John Walton
Jack Calcott
Julie Nihill
Vicki Calcott
Hugh Keays-Byrne
Kangaroo
Peter Hehir
Jaz
Peter Cummins
Struthers
Tim Robertson
O'Neill

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Tim Burstall
Writers: Evan Jones
Languages: English
Countries: Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $3.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Tim Burstall, shot by Dan Burstall. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Nathan Waks. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Edward McQueen-Mason shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Colin Friels and Judy Davis and John Walton carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0091325 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Tim Burstall directs. Dan Burstall behind the camera. Nathan Waks scores. Edward McQueen-Mason cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $3.3M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 13% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
340 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Directed by Tim Burstall, shot by Dan Burstall. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Nathan Waks. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Edward McQueen-Mason shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Colin Friels and Judy Davis and John Walton carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0091325 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "sydney, australia", "war veteran", "political activism", "riot".