Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

All titles in the ‘Satire’ genre

27 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year

1930s

It Isn’t Done feature film – 1937

1937 was Cinesound’s golden year – the studio’s films now boasted wittier scripts, more attention to performance, and a series of strong leading players.

1960s

Ninety Nine Per Cent short feature – 1963

Pino, an Italian immigrant widower, seeks an agency bride to keep house and be wife and mother to him and his son Peter.

1970s

Jack and Jill: A Postscript feature film – 1970

Jack lives in a condemned house and rides with a bikie gang. Gillian, a kindergarten teacher from a middle-class family, is attracted to Jack.

Bonjour Balwyn feature film – 1971

Kevin leaves a job in insurance to start his own magazine. As his debts mount, Kevin’s prospects begin to look brighter in the criminal world.

Art documentary – 1974

This short, amusing and thoughtful animated documentary is full of debate about art and is a good starter for students.

Peter Nicholson Animations – Fraser’s Leadership Challenge short film – 1974

An animated political cartoon by Peter Nicholson featuring Billy Snedden and Malcolm Fraser.

Peter Nicholson Animations – Gough’s World Tour short film – 1974

An animated political cartoon by Peter Nicholson featuring Gough Whitlam, Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Bob Hawke.

The Gunston Tapes television program – 1975

Garry McDonald plays Norman Gunston, an egotistical but inept talk-show host. His rich and famous interview subjects often didn’t know the show was a parody.

The Removalists feature film – 1975

The story is a savage microcosm of Australia, rather than just a look at the then-topical issue of police hypocrisy and brutality.

1980s

The Gillies Report – Series 1, Episode 4 television program – 1984

Max Gillies’ ability to capture the mannerisms of our politicians and Patrick Cook’s searingly funny scripts are this program’s great strengths.

Bliss feature film – 1985

To say Bliss was ahead of its time is an understatement: the bold metaphors and sharp satire weren’t appreciated by everyone in 1985.

The Coca-Cola Kid feature film – 1985

The Coca–Cola company sends its top trouble shooter to boost sales in Australia. He plans to win customers away from a much loved, old-style soft-drink maker.

Babakiueria short film – 1986

A mockumentary surveying the culture and customs of the white native people of the land of ‘Babakiueria’, from the perspective of the country’s black colonisers.

The Fast Lane - Episode 7: The Sound of One Hand Counting television program – 1986

A private detective agency run by a couple of incompetents feature in a social satire on life 'in the fast lane’ written by John Clarke and Andrew Knight.

Emerald City feature film – 1988

Successful screenwriter Colin Rogers moves from Melbourne to Sydney and becomes involved with commercial movie hustler Mike McCord.

1990s

Fast Forward – Series 4 Episode 3 television program – 1992

A sketch comedy show from the late 1980s and early ‘90s featuring some big names in Australian comedy.

Strictly Ballroom feature film – 1992

Strictly Ballroom is one of the most popular Australian films ever made. The story may be nothing new but the execution is so colourful and eccentric it hardly matters.

The Games – Series 1 Episode 8, Rural and Environment television program – 1998

In mockumentary style, The Games charts the progress of the fictitious Logistics and Liaison Division of SOCOG in the run-up to the Sydney Olympics.

Holy Smoke feature film – 1999

Ruth Barron falls under the spell of a guru while visiting India. Her desperate family hires cult deprogrammer PJ Waters to confront Ruth.

2000s

Leunig Animated – How Democracy Actually Works short film – 2001

This animated short based on the cartoons of Michael Leunig offers a fresh look at democracy and elections.

CNNNN: Chaser Non-stop News Network – Lunchgate television program – 2002

Finely tuned satire that gives sensationalist reportage a caning.

Kath and Kim – Money television program – 2002

Kath’s 'look at moi’ is the show’s most famous catchphrase and the vernacular of the 'foxy ladies’ has become a recognisable fixture in popular culture.

The Instructional Guide to Dating short film – 2005

This short film contains in-flight instructions for dating success.

The Chaser’s War on Everything – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2006

This is the first episode of the satirical variety program, containing comic pranks, commentary and send-ups responding to topical issues and more general subjects.

The Chaser’s War on Everything – APEC Episodes television program – 2007

The Chaser’s APEC episodes underscore the power of the unexpected in this type of comedy and the legal juggling act involved in bringing it to air on a weekly basis.

Global Haywire documentary – 2007

Bruce Petty asks Noam Chomsky, Gore Vidal and a bunch of cartoon characters if the West has only got itself to blame for its woes.

The Librarians – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2007

This situation comedy series is set in a fictitious ‘Interactive Learning Centre’, known more prosaically as the local library.