Picnic at Hanging Rock continues to mystify audiences 50 years after its release, still posing the question: “What really happened on Valentine’s Day 1900?”
Director: Peter Weir
Genre: Drama, Coming of Age
Run Time: 107′
Re-Release: 14-21 February, 2025
Where to Watch: In UK & Irish cinemas
When you think of films set on Valentine’s Day, you think of stories of love, lust and romance. Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock has all three as underlying themes, but at the heart of this story, there’s an unsolved mystery. It’s a mystery so big that it remains unsolved even after the credits roll, leaving you full of intrigue and left to think: “What really did happen on Valentine’s Day 1900 to the missing girls of Appleyard College?”.
It was meant to be a relaxing, picturesque day for the girls of Appleyard College as they ate their packed lunches and read poetry under the Australian summer sun. Hanging Rock, a still existent eerie rock formation in Victoria, makes for a change in scenery for the girls. They spend their days at a private boarding school in the middle of nowhere, where they’re always watched with close attention by headmistress Mrs. Appleyard (Rachel Roberts). It’s a chance to soak up some nature and read a little outdoors rather than being trapped in their dormitories.
Miranda (Anne-Louise Lambert) makes the call to go exploring around the perimeter of Hanging Rock with Marion (Jane Vallis), Irma (Karen Robson) and Edith (Christine Schuler) all following. However, their eyes are only heading in one direction: to the summit of Hanging Rock. They’ve been told not to stray far, but with no teacher watching, they take their chances and begin climbing.
Two onlookers, Michael (Dominic Guard) and Albert (John Jarratt), are the last to see Miranda, Marion, Irma, and Miss McCraw (Vivean Gray), who goes looking for the girls when they don’t return, as they disappear up into the crevices of the rock. Edith miraculously returns to Appleyard College, but doesn’t remember a single thing and is no help to the police when search parties are sent to the rock to find the four missing girls. Did they jump? Did they fall? What is it about Hanging Rock that makes those lucky to return lose their memory of ever being there?
Anne-Louise Lambert excels as Miranda, the seemingly queen bee of the group. Her friends would be completely lost without her. Despite her character having limited screen time, she’s the star of the whole film. She’s the lost girl everyone cares about. Yes, we want to find out what happens to the other girls, but more people are riding on Miranda’s survival.
Whilst not explicitly an Ozploitation film, the film clearly takes influence from the rising sub-genre of the time. The difference is how the visuals continue to make every scene alluring. If you watch Long Weekend (1978) or Walkabout (1971), you’re deterred from visiting the outback. But when you’re watching Picnic at Hanging Rock, there’s something calling you in to visit. You want to see for yourself what really is the appeal. Cinematographer Russel Boyd, who won a BAFTA back in 1975 for his contribution to the film, knows how to frame the haunting outback to look appealing. When all the girls are sat reading by Hanging Rock it could be mistaken for a Monet painting the way everything is framed, even the formidable rock.
The feeling of lust in Picnic at Hanging Rock comes from a variety of characters. All of the girls who go missing are lusting after Miranda, wanting to be her, or maybe just wanting to be her closest friend. There’s an underlying queer subtext of one or more of the girls pining after Miranda, crushing on the way her blonde hair perfectly falls, or how she cares individually for everyone she associates with. There’s also the quickness in which Michael and Albert fall for Miranda in the brief moment they set eyes on her. Maybe there’s something in the air at Hanging Rock that makes those who dare go near the rock fall for the first girl they lay eyes on. Or maybe there’s just something magical about Miranda.
Picnic at Hanging Rock stands the test of time, and even now 50 years later, it still has so much enticement attached to it. Whether you consider it a true Valentine’s Day film or decide to watch it in summer to catch the same summer rays the girls in the film are soaking up, it’s a mystery you must watch for yourself, to see if you can uncover the true secret of Hanging Rock.
Picnic at Hanging Rock: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Set with a backdrop of Australia’s summer sun, a Valentine’s Day picnic goes awry when three girls and a teacher go missing without a trace, leaving the locals to scour for any clues they can.
Pros:
- Some of the best cinematography ever put to screen
- A mystery like no other, with secrets around every corner
- The entire ensemble is noteworthy, but in particular, it’s worth a watch for Anne-Louise Lambert’s performance alone
Cons:
- Maybe not for you if you don’t like slow burners
To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, a new 4K restoration of Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) will be released in UK and Irish cinemas on 21 February 2025, with Valentine’s Day previews on 14-15 February.
