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Waiting (1990)

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clip Not so Fairweather

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

Clip description

The quiet rural farmhouse, where the pregnant Clare Fairweather (Noni Hazlehurst) has been enjoying a nap, is instantly transformed into bedlam as the first visitors arrive amid a rainstorm. Clare’s female friends Sandy (Helen Jones) and Therese (Fiona Press) quickly take charge.

Curator’s notes

The frantic way in which Sandy greets Clare by barking questions at her, not even saying ‘hello’, suggests she’s keen to take over the whole birth process. She seems both tense and breathlessly excited – and perhaps a bit obsessed: witness the way she shows off the new pram she’s brought along. We’ll find out why a few scenes later. Meanwhile, Therese issues curt orders to Sandy not to make any food for her husband, Michael (Frank Whitten) – an indication she’s both a strong feminist and a bossy boots.

Notice the way McKimmie uses the camera and blocks the actors (that is, places and moves them around the scene), transmitting a sense of the unfolding chaos while not allowing viewers to become confused. A particularly subtle and interesting detail is the way Michael enters the scene, greeting Clare from what appears to be the opposite side of the room to the front entrance. This adds to the sense of unpredictability and chaos enveloping the house.

Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer Not so Fairweather from the feature film Waiting as a high quality video download.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

  • You may retrieve materials for information only.
  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

All other rights reserved.

ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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