A Personal History of the Australian Surf

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1981 Australian film

A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Being the Confessions of a Straight Poofter

Directed by| Michael Blakemore
Written by| Michael Blakemore
Produced by| Jeremy Cornford
Starring| Michael Blakemore
Music by| Peter Best

Production
company

Adams Packer Film Productions

Release date

* 1981 (1981)

Running time

| 51:41
Country| Australia

A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Being the Confessions of a Straight Poofter Is a 1981 autobiographical documentary by Michael Blakemore, who wrote, directed, and starred in it. The film was made on 16mm film and was first screened in the United Kingdom at London's National Film Theater. It was subsequently shown by Channel 4 television.[1]

The film is a personal examination of the character & memories of Sydney-born Blakemore, who in real life was a director with a successful career in theatre in the United Kingdom, including a directorship of Britain’s National Theatre. The plot revolves around a nostalgic trip home to Sydney and its beaches made by Blakemore, with recollections of his youth and education in the 1930s-1940s, while also reflecting on the history of surfing in Australia. The film also touches on Blakemore's father's ambition for his son to enter the medical profession, whereas Blakemore pursues a life in theatre and film. In creating the project as both director and writer, Blakemore additionally narrates the commentary and also appears in front of the camera, including scenes where he plays his own father.[2][3]

The film was produced by Adams Packer Film Productions, a short-lived company jointly owned by Kerry Packer and Phillip Adams who were close friends at one stage, with Adams credited as one of the film's co-producers.[4][3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Pilger, John (2 September 2010). A Secret Country. ISBN 9781407086323.
2. ^ Parer, Damien. "Curator's notes A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Being the Confessions of a Straight Poofter (1981) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 10 August 2024. "Curator's notes by Damien Parer: A personal study of Michael Blakemore..."
3. ^ a b Australian Centre for the Moving Image. "A Personal history of the Australian surf: being the confessions of a straight poofter | Michael Blakemore | 1981 | ACMI collection". www.acmi.net.au. Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Retrieved 10 August 2024. "...Michael Blakemore, recreates his childhood and adolescence in the 1930s and 1940s in Sydney and reflects on the events which led to his career... the film is also something of a mini history of surfing in Australia... ...co-producer...Phillip Adams"
4. ^ "Video Overview A Personal History of the Australian Surf: Being the Confessions of a Straight Poofter (1981) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online". aso.gov.au. National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 10 August 2024. "Production company: Adams Packer Film Productions"

## External links

[edit]

* A Personal History of the Australian Surf at Australian Screen Online
* A Personal History of the Australian Surf at IMDb
* A Personal History of the Australian Surf at Oz Movies

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