Main Cast: Nick Tate, John Waters, Elizabeth Alexander, Michelle Jarman, Charles "Bud" Tingwell
Release Year: 1977
Country: AU
Run Time: 95 minutes
Plot
An Australian film directed by Ken Hannam, this is one of the lesser-recognized movies of the Australian New Wave of the 1970s. It's about an urbane schoolteacher, Simon Robinson (Nick Tate), who takes a job on a small island off the Australian coast after the schoolteacher there has mysteriously vanished. It's a spooky place, and the locals are unhelpful as Robinson tries to piece together the puzzle of his predecessor's disappearance. Robinson realizes that he's in increasing danger as he begins to discover the mystery, but he feels compelled to continue his investigation. The pace is slow and the mood is haunting in this story of an outsider's attempts to break the code of a local culture. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
This arthouse variant on the mystery genre spellbinds some viewers and frustrates others -- but it is a journey worth taking. Cliff Green's script moves at a deliberate pace, carefully layering its clues and nuances to create a situation where the viewer is always off-guard. Some viewers will be able to guess the twist that precipitates the finale but that is followed by some truly unexpected moments and a surprise coda that lingers in the memory. Nick Tate makes a solid everyman-style protagonist and Michelle Alexander is appropriately mysterious and unpredictable as the woman whose secrecy beguiles the hero. Also worthy of note is a scene-stealing turn from Geraldine Turner as a lusty landlady who hovers over the hero when he's at his boarding house home. Finally, and most importantly, Summerfield boasts impressive direction by Ken Hannam, who packs the film with eye-catching imagery of the island locale and creates a hypnotic, quietly unnerving atmosphere that suits the story well. His work is bolstered effectively by a lush, moody musical score from Bruce Smeaton that seals the film's intense atmosphere. In short, Summerfield is not for all tastes but those who can get into its hypnotic and enigmatic style will find it offers its own unique rewards. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
Geraldine Turner - Betty Tate; Max Cullen - Jim Tate; Sheila Florance - Miss Gleeson; Isobel Harley - Miss Tucker; Joy Westmore - Mrs. Shields; Adrian Wright - Peter Flynn; Barry Donnelly - Sgt. Potter; David Smeed - Mark; Max Fairchild - Joe Baxter
Credit
Graham "Grace" Walker - Art Director, Pom Oliver - Associate Producer, Ron Williams - Costume Designer, Mark Egerton - First Assistant Director, Ken Hannam - Director, Sara Bennett - Editor, Bruce Smeaton - Composer (Music Score), Michael Molloy - Cinematographer, Patricia Lovell - Producer, Gary Wilkins - Sound/Sound Designer, Ken Hammond - Sound/Sound Designer, Clifford Green - Screen Story, Clifford Green - Screenwriter
