Based on Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel and adapted into Peter Weir's masterpiece of cinema in 1975, this 2018 television adaptation of 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is certainly not trying to replicate Weir's film because it is it's own thing and that is what makes it so special.
It's rich in colour, dark, twisted, complex and inviting. It opens up the things left unopened in Lindsay's novel, the things found only when read between the lines. It provides a new perspective on an already well-known story which makes this adaptation so engaging and refreshing and gets better every episode! The performances are exceptional, the direction is sublime, the writing is incredibly witty and the cinematography is beautiful, as it is haunting and disorientating, which only adds to the uncertainty of the overarching mystery.
In an age where the Australian screen industry is struggling to stay alive, Foxtel's 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' stands as proof of the talent we have in Australia and the rich stories we have and should be telling worldwide. 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is certainly not a remake of Weir's 1975 classic, but rather, a look at Lindsay's classic story from a new perspective, for a new audience. 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is nothing but a triumph for Australian television. Bravo!
In an age where the Australian screen industry is struggling to stay alive, Foxtel's 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' stands as proof of the talent we have in Australia and the rich stories we have and should be telling worldwide. 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is certainly not a remake of Weir's 1975 classic, but rather, a look at Lindsay's classic story from a new perspective, for a new audience. 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' is nothing but a triumph for Australian television. Bravo!