Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Clay (1965)

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clip Everything like a dream

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Nick (George Dixon) is on the run from the police. Margot (Janina Lebedew) and her father (Claude Thomas) stop to help.

Curator’s notes

A striking opening sequence. The use of voice-over and negative film processing establishes a dream-like atmosphere. The action cuts to Nick on the words ‘without end or beginning’, lending an immediate sense of mystery to events. Is this the past or present, real or imagined? Water and earth are introduced as key visual motifs; these are the raw ingredients of the clay Margot sculpts and will come to symbolise her love for Nick. Credited in the opening titles, Justus Jorgenson was the founder of Montsalvat artist colony; some of his paintings are featured in the film.