BACK OF BEYOND COLLECTION, THE
Synopsis
Forty years after legendary filmmaker John Heyer captured a uniquely Aussie adventure on film, we revisit the dusty outback once more as dedicated postman Tom Kruse returns to the rugged Birdsville Track to relive his past and comment on the future of outback Australia.
Exploring past endeavours and investigating significant changes across the decades, Back To The Back of Beyond looks at the developing countryside, where the 300-mile track that was used by Aboriginal people trading between north and south became such an important lifeline to outlying cattle stations.
An enlightening retrospective, John Heyer, Pat Jackson and Tom Kruse lovingly recount their life's work with amusing anecdotes and engaging honesty, providing a delightful companion piece to the seminal 1954 documentary.
Extra Features
- BACK OF BEYOND
- Three bonus John Heyer historical short films:JOURNEY OF A NATION (1947) - 11 minutesThe much lauded poetic and polemical documentary about the standardisation of Australian rail gauges, emphasising the economic cost in times of peace and the possible threat to security in times of war. Heyer explores the five changes in the size of rail track between the mainland states. An Australian National Film Board Production. Produced by the Department of Information. © 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. (in small copyright sized text).
- THE REEF (1977) - 74 minutesThe Reef captures the beauty of one of the world's living wonders - Australia's Great Barrier Reef. But man-made pollution may set in motion an alarming chain of events which could threaten six hundred thousand years of coral life.
- LET'S GO (1956) - 10 minutes'Motoring isn't just a matter of having a car or a truck, it's a matter of knowing about the road!' A classic tale of planning an outback trip long before the advent of GPS, where The Shell Touring Service maps were the only way to go. Photo Gallery
Cast
- Tom Kruse
Directors
- John Heyer