Mad Max (1979)

Mad Max: Directed by George Miller. With Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley. In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

“Dr. George Milleru0026#39;s low budget Mad Max franchise impacted on Australian culture and altered the perception of Australia and Australians overseas in a way that no other Australian film had done. The films explores themes such as u0026#39;man and the environmentu0026#39;, u0026#39;fear provoking post-apocalyptic future, familyu0026#39;, u0026#39;masculinity in crisisu0026#39;, u0026#39;good versus evil (Max as an iconic hero), Australian ethos and car culture; themes often featured within Australian films yet presented in a stark and dramatic way. The cinematographic impact is powerful; the human and emotional appeal is timeless.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAustraliau0026#39;s barren deserts presented the ideal setting for a post-apocalyptic environment. The film set is more identifiable as Australia as it was filmed around the city of Melbourne. Long deserted roads feature significantly in the film and the cinematographic device of taking long distant shots of Max demonstrates how small he is in the scale of the environment that he is living. It is a relentless, unforgiving environment which demands defeat or survival and marks the characters which play upon its stage.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJust as the physical setting is stark and desolate, the time setting and its associated events create an atmosphere of fear and foreboding which plays on the minds and emotions of contemporary viewers. In this fear provoking post apocalyptic future the few survivors of the nuclear holocaust are in warfare with one another, the rebel bikers and the police.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGood versus evil is a dominant discourse in many film genres and one which embraces the Australian ethos. Max possesses some highly valued u0026quot;Australianu0026quot; traits; in particular, those of the underdog, the battler, the hero. External forces beyond his control stop him from u0026quot;winningu0026quot; completely. Contrary to the Hollywood hero, the Australian hero is a pawn in the game of others, which explains why Max can never quite u0026quot;winu0026quot; in absolute terms. There is little public glorification of success in Australia; heroes are remembered for their style rather than for their achievements. (Venkatasawmy, 1996) Mad Max represented a tradition hero, a hero to whom many diverse cultures are able to relate, as a story of a lone hero is a story that goes back through centuries of storytelling, and as a consequence the film achieved colossal success within Australian and around the world. The Australian cultures and lifestyles shown throughout these films give Australians an understanding of their country in the landscape, the language, and the way we treat people, life and life in exceptional circumstances.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eReference Venkatasawmy, R. (1996), Australian Film in the Reading Room: The Hybridity of Film-making in Australian National Cinema: Formulating a Cinematic Post-Diaspora. Retrieved March 14, 2005, from http://wwwmcc.murdoch.edu.au/ReadingRoom/rama/CHAPT4.htm”