The Everlasting Secret Family (1988)

Director:

Michael Thornhill

Writer:

Frank Moorhouse (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A beautiful, if ambitious and amoral, youth is tapped to become the lover of a powerful senator. The...

Plot Keywords:

Lover | Senator | Youth | Secret | Chauffeur

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Arthur Dignam	...	Senator
Mark Lee	...	Youth
Heather Mitchell	...	Wife
Dennis Miller	...	Eric the Chauffeur
Paul Goddard	...	Son
Beth Child	...	Pottery Woman
John Clayton	...	Mayor
Nick Holland	...	New Chauffeur
Bogdan Koca	...	Medical Specialist
John Meillon	...	Judge
Anna Volska	...	Wife's Friend
Allan Penney	...	Gardener
Louis Nowra	...	Shop Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dominic Barry	...	Bell Captain
Tony Bremner	...	Piano Singer
Alexander Broun	...	Boy #1
Alan Carey	...	Doctor at Oval
Robert Carne	...	Japanese Speaking Boy
Marcus Cornelius	...	Teacher at Oval
Jeffrey Davey	...	School Child #2
Paul Davies	...	Waiter #1
Andrew Dawes	...	Office Person
Vanessa Downing	...	Woman Judge #2
Melany England	...	School Child #3
Ritchie Finger	...	Drag Queen #2
Alton Harvey	...	Cleaner
Johnny H	...	Drag Queen #1
Bruce Hughes	...	Boy #2
Ken Keen	...	Headmaster
Tom Kennedy	...	Synthesiser Player
Michael Kozuki	...	Mr. Akutangana
Vicki Luke	...	Political Secretary
James Maddox	...	Pianist #1
Julia Moody	...	Woman Judge #1
Drew Norman	...	Oil Boy
Helen O'Connor	...	Judge's Associate
Tim Page	...	New Judge
John Paramor	...	Barrister
Victor Ramon	...	Maitre'd #1
Martin Raphael	...	Embracing Man
Jayme Sargent	...	School Child #1
Michael Winchester	...	School Teacher

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

FGH

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Hidden History of Homosexual Australia (2005)

A truly disturbing film

A truly disturbing film that not only deals as its principal subject matter the sexual abuse of a youth who is inducted into an all pervasive "secret society" with very powerful members, but also because it confirms the sadly often held view of some sections of society that believe that this is how all homosexuals operate. That said, the sexual hypocrisy of Australian society of the sixties and seventies is tantalizingly portrayed.

The movie is set in an almost bucolic environment which is quite fitting when one considers that Canberra, the national capital of Australia is plonked right in the middle of nowhere. Later in the movie the scene shifts to Sydney, and surprisingly the harbour is not featured so much as the claustrophobic sandstone architecture of some indoor shots.

Designers should note the accurate representation of 70's chic of the youth's apartment.

The performance of Arthur Dignam in particular is spectacular, as is the muted and understated performance of the superb John Meillon in one of his final roles. Watch for Mark Lee trying not to cringe at one point when the "son" (Paul Goddard) says that he wants to visit the place where the first world war battle took place (Gallipoli) - Mark Lee having starred in the movie of the same name some years earlier.

The soundtrack is haunting for two reasons: Tony Bremner's themes orchestrated beautifully only to be let down by the unbearably out of tune male choir. This is such a pity because the score is truly wonderful.

I was delighted to have a copy of VHS: now it's even better on DVD, although the "extras" are virtually non existent.

Can this be recommended? It certainly reminds me of my teen years growing up in Australia when homosexuality was still a criminal offence and the only way to know one another was through underground contacts. I do wonder however, what people overseas will be able to make of this movie.