Until the mid-1970's, as far as the international film community was concerned, Australian film was no more notable than Icelandic film. Ten years later, Australia's national cinema was considered so striking, original, and vital that its filmmakers were working all over the globe, and having a particularly decisive effect on American film. This course will consider the meteoric rise of Australian filmmaking to international prominence and influence, with an emphasis on stylistic innovations and thematic preoccupations. Films to be studied will include Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Bruce Beresford's Breaker Morant, Gillian Armstrong's My Brilliant Career, and George Miller's Mad Max and The Road Warrior. Format: tutorial. Requirements: In keeping with tutorial format, students will meet in pairs with the instructor once a week; during these meetings, one student will present a short analytical paper on the works being covered that week, the other student will join the instructor in responding to that paper. Prerequisite: English 204, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected: 10). (Post-1900)