Australia

If I am completely honest with you having seen this on three occasions I am still unsure what this beautifully photographed film is about. The backdrops are colourful and remain as mesmerising and captivating as Jeremy Irons is with Fanny Ardant. The plot centres in part around an English dynasty which has some of its fortune based in the Australian wool industry during the 1920/30's. The textile business has less to do with the plot than the intriguing interaction between the two leading actors. Flashbacks occur, intermingled with their present day roles as parents, business people and travellers... and all the while leaving the viewer to decide where this story is going. In other words, you have to work quite hard to glean an appreciation of the deep intrigue involved.

The first time I saw this film, although having enjoyed, and felt deeply moved I had little or no idea even what this was about and felt totally baffled. That's a challenge! In order to crack it... you are compelled to watch this more than once. How often does a film withstand multiple viewing and remain as much a pleasure to watch each time as it was the first? In my experience, rarely. I recommend this to anyone, regardless of gender, age or background. There are many levels to 'Australia' not least the beautiful cinematography, and this is unbelievably distracting.

The acting is effortless, perfectly directed and the script is admittedly sparse but extremely well-timed and thought out. If you watch this with someone you are bound to end up discussing what exactly you've just seen. So buy it! I guarantee you'll watch this more than once, and you'll probably feel you'd like to have lived as they did... A genuinely timeless film.