Search - Picnic at Hanging Rock [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1975 DVD Release: 11/03/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Director's Cut,Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 47 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 21 Genres: Drama, Mystery, Period Film, Psychological Drama, Coming-of-Age

Peter Weir's haunting and evocative mystery is set in the Australia of 1900, a mystical place where the British have attempted to impose their Christian culture with such tweedy refinements as a girls' boarding school. After gauzily-photographed, nicely underplayed scenes of the girls' budding sexuality being restrained in Victorian corsets, the uptight headmistress (Rachel Roberts) takes them on a Valentine's Day picnic into the countryside, and several of the girls, led by the lovely Miranda (Anne Lambert) decide to explore a nearby volcanic rock formation. It's a desolate, primitive, vaguely menacing place, where one can almost feel the presence of ancient pagan spirits. Something -- and there is an unspoken but palpable emphasis on the inherent carnality of the place -- draws four of the girls to explore the rock. Three never return. No one ever finds out why. The repercussions for the school are tragic, and of course Roberts reacts with near-crazed anger, but what really happened? Weir gives enough clues to suggest any number of explanations, both physical and supernatural. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide

Rachel Roberts - Mrs. Appleyard
Dominic Guard - Michael Fitzhubert
Vivean Gray - Miss Greta McGraw
Helen Morse - Diane de Poitiers
Kirsty Child - Dora Lumley

Peter Weir's creepy, beautifully photographed movie is a mysteriously ambiguous study of repression and nature. As with any movie ripe with symbolism, the cinematography and sound presentation give insight and/or clues into the goings-on of the plot; this requires the DVD to faithfully translate Russell Boyd's dusty, yet lush photography and Gheorghe Zamfir's haunting, pan flute interpretations of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven compositions. On both counts, the DVD wins. Whether Weir is focusing on a slice of cake covered with ants, the haunted image of a girl's face reflected in a mirror, or Hanging Rock obscured by misty fog, the Criterion DVD is a marvel to behold. The 1.66:1 aspect ratio of this director's cut of the movie is entirely respectful of the artistry that went into the film's production. The dominant earth tones, while not photo realistic, immerse the viewer in the mysteries of Mother Nature. The Dolby Digital soundtrack, full of strange and beautiful sound effects of unknown origin, consistently stuns. The "Chapters" menu allows instant access to the DVD's 33 chapters. The theatrical trailer, not of the same quality artistically or technically as the movie, isn't worth a second look; it's also not to be viewed before the movie, since it gives away far too many plot points. Film critic Vincent Canby's liner notes are the rare sort that actually provide insight into the movie. Picnic at Hanging Rock is as haunting and mesmerizing as ever on this first-rate, Criterion Collection DVD. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide