Radiance
83 min
More than two decades after its premiere in 1998, Radiance remains a compelling drama. Launching the cinematic careers of director Rachel Perkins (Bran Nue Day), Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires) and director of photography Warwick Thornton (Samson & Delilah), the film is a landmark in Australian cinema, recognised by a sumptuous restoration by NFSA.
An adaptation of a Louis Nowra play, the story centres on three sisters. They return to their childhood home after their mother’s death only to discover the volcanic secrets bubbling away under the surface of their fragile family. By the end of the day, fault lines open and those secrets erupt into a painful and cathartic reckoning.
“Skilfully touches on Indigenous questions regarding displacement, heritage, land and belonging, without becoming an agenda movie or sacrificing its universality.” – Variety
