John Doggett-Williams

Melbourne-based Stelarc burst into prominence in the early 1970s with confronting, and outrageous public art performances. Following his mantra that ‘the body is obsolete’ he set about testing the limits of his own body in a series of death-defying stunts. Stelarc has always fought to escape the force of gravity. A third arm, an extra ear, a cheeky prosthetic head and an ambidextrous hand all play parts in this lively biopic as Stelarc wrangles the intersection between humanity and technology.

The Big Picture details the careers Charles and Elsa Chauvel – known as Australia’s most enduring and successful filmmakers, having made nine feature films between 1926 and 1955. The Chauvels were innovators and pioneers, constantly testing the boundaries of what was possible physically and financially. Featuring in depth interviews with Susanne Chauvel Carlsson, Ric Carlsson as well as fascinating archival material, including rare footage of Charles and Elsa Chauvel, Chips Rafferty and Michael Pate. The Big Picture – the films of Charles Chauvel is based on the biography/memoir The Life and Cinema of Charles Chauvel by Susanne Chauvel Carlsson and is an important documentary depicting a vital piece of film making history.