Cult Aussie Films
By Eric (Discover English Teacher)
I’m sure that we’re all watching a whole lot of TV and Netflix these days. Lying on the couch in our pyjamas, dreaming of going outside, of doing something – anything – but forced instead to scroll through all the countless programmes on offer on various streaming services. Too much of a good thing becomes bad, hey?
Having said that, movies and television programmes are actually a really good way to practise listening in a new language and they’ll teach you new vocabulary, help with pronunciation, and offer an insight into different cultures.
While we can’t go out and explore Melbourne right now, we can watch Australian movies and listen to our crazy Aussie accents and maybe even recognise a familiar street.
I’m just going to list a few cult Aussie films that come to mind. A ‘cult’ film is a film which has developed lasting popularity within a group, so that even decades after it was made it is still seen as being valuable and relevant and enjoyable. I have to admit, this may be simply due to nostalgia – I watched these films as a youth and they’ve stuck in my head and my heart.
There’re hundreds of great Australian films out there, these are just a few that I remember enjoying. I believe you can find most of them on YouTube. They’re pretty old, so it will be like travelling back in time to an earlier Melbourne.
‘Malcolm’ (1986). Malcolm is a very cute little comedy about a super-shy man who invents weird things. He ends-up helping his flatmates commit a robbery. It was mostly filmed around Fitzroy and the CBD.
‘Death in Brunswick’ (1990). Sydney Rd. a long time ago – woah! This dark comedy-thriller is about accidental murder and spiralling mayhem.
‘Mary and Max’ (2008). This is an endearing animation about two unlikely pen-pals – a little girl in Melbourne and an overweight man in New York City
‘Strictly Ballroom’ (1992). This one isn’t set in Melbourne, but it’s a super sweet and funny Cinderella-like story set in the garish world of competitive dancing.
‘Muriel’s Wedding’ (1994). Another sweet little comedy about a young woman desperate to escape her dead-end home town and have a glamorous wedding.
Who can guess when I grew up?
Oh, and of course:
‘Mad Max’ (1979) The new one – Fury Road – is more an international creation, but the original is Aussie as. Post-apocalyptic action, awesome.
It’s important also to mention ABC iView and SBS onDemand – these are two free streaming services that you can access and use to watch lots of Australian content (they’re offshoots of our two public television stations).
It’s bonza for listening to our accents, mate 🙂
Featured image source: Muriel’s Wedding, Amazon, Prime Video.