Peter Weir’s film Gallipoli - 1722 Words

Peter Weir’s 1981 film Gallipoli can in every sense of the phrase be called an ‘Australian classic’. The impact and effect this film has had upon the psyche and perspective of several generations of Australians has been significant. Whilst it can be argued that every Australian is aware of the ANZAC legend, and the events that occurred on the Turkish beaches in 1915, Weir’s film encapsulates and embodies a cultural myth which is now propagated as fact and embraced as part of the contemporary Australian identity. The film projects a sense of Australian nationalism that grew out of the 1970’s, and focuses on what it ‘means’ to be an Australian in a post-colonial country. In this way Gallipoli embodies a sense of ‘Australian-ness’ through†¦show more content†¦Individualism is shared through the mirror imaging of the two protagonists, presenting â€Å"unabashedly the primacy of the male subject, in fact revealing his e levation to the status of universal subject. It glorifies the centrality of the superior bond between male and male that is forged in the crucible of hardship and opposition† (Lucas 148). Archie and Frank can be seen as representative of Australian nationalism through the fact that they embody opposing and yet complementary aspects of the male ideal, both being physical capable and displaying a casual attitude towards authority. In this way, the glorified concept of mateship embodies Australian nationalism, and emphasizes that â€Å"Mateship was a particular Australian virtue, a creed, almost a religion. Men lived by it. ... They died by it and it could become their finest epitaph† (Gammage 63). Furthermore, Gallipoli can be seen as reflecting a form of nationalism through the contrast of Australia and Britain within the film. Australia’s ‘new nationalism’ â€Å"represented an attempt to redefine the core of Australian civic culture and identity in the fading light of the Empire...to focus on the easier question of what Australia was not† (MacLeod 68). Primarily by representing Archie and Frank as in possession of a set of behaviours that were unique to Australians, and especially to Australian men, the identity of the nation became more distinctShow MoreRelatedIntroduction. The Film, Gallipoli, Directed By Peter Weir,1677 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The film, Gallipoli, directed by Peter Weir, depicts one of the most controversial aspects of Australian history. The film depicts heritage myths regarding Australian culture; and Australia’s size in the world at large. Weir’s Gallipoli is taken from an Australian perspective and presents a compressed narrative of the events that shaped Australian society during World War I. The 20th Century saw the emergence of cinematography as a primary medium. One aspect of cinematography thatRead MoreMasculinity in Peter Weirs Gallipoli1893 Words   |  8 Pagesconstructed in Gallipoli and / or First Blood? What codes and norms of gender are used to construct masculinity in the film(s)? The perception of masculinity within Australian films is a reflection of our society’s views and opinions of what it is to be considered masculine. It is continually reinforced in our society by the constructions of the male character in movies, just like Archie and Frank, in Gallipoli and particular male figures within our nation’s history, such as Ned Kelly. Peter Weir’s reflectionRead MoreEssay on Gallipoli: The Desctructive Nature of War 664 Words   |  3 PagesIn Gallipoli, the final running sequence mirrors the opening sequence in order to draw the viewer’s attention to the destructive nature of war. This is emphasised by the film concluding with a freeze frame of Archy being mowed down by gunfire. The use of a medium shot assist in emphasising his movements and facial expressions as he runs (5). This in conjunction with the repetition of the whistle sound that indicates the start of Archy running, along with the mere sound of heavy breathing, re vealsRead MoreAustralian Identity in Film2196 Words   |  9 PagesAustralian Identity in Film How a country is designed and subsequently populated will have an indelible impression on the joint psychology of that countrys population. The peoples understanding of themselves as a country will also affect how that nation presents itself to the rest of the world. Much of this will have to do with the countrys concepts of nation, nationalism, and community. A nation is a socially-constructed concept dealing with the country itself as well as the population in the