Tuesdays at 7 PM. August 6th - 27th, 2024.

Because it’s like stakes as in something is at risk. And also the restaurant.

The 1970’s marked the dawn of filmmakers taking Australian cinema to new extremes. Some of these films pioneered the Australian New Wave which used experimental filmmaking to challenge previous modes of storytelling and explore the country in new and transgressive ways. Other films helped popularize Ozploitation: a growing trend of pulpy genre films which used the locale as a space where crazy, high octane set pieces could ensue. Whatever the case, the 70’s and 80’s were filled with a fantastic array of thrillers which navigated the overwhelming vistas, incredible nature, and messy historical baggage of the country for their own brilliant means.

This August, CinemaSF is happy to present four of these films in our series Outback Stakes House, which will highlight the high and low brow pleasures of this abundant period in Australian cinema. We’ll begin on August 6th with the delightful action-packed gem The Man From Hong Kong, a pseudo-James Bond riff set in Sydney and made in collaboration with martial arts powerhouse Golden Harvest. On August 13th, you can see Picnic at Hanging Rock, a timelessly haunting mystery and breakthrough for the beloved director Peter Weir (Master and Commander, The Truman Show, Witness). We continue on August 20th with the intoxicating psychological thriller Wake in Fright. And finally, the series concludes on August 27th with Roadgames, a joyous mash up of sick car stunts and Hitchcockian intrigue (think Rear Window meets Duel, but if the truck driver was the one in danger).

Though wildly different, all of these films share one thing in common. Tourists from different parts of the world enter into Australia and becoming engulfed in mayhem and chaos that bring them to the brink of their sanity. In a much more controlled, safe way, we hope you’ll come out to the 4-Star in August to do the same.

Films provided by Umbrella Entertainment and Janus Films.

Sponsored by Amoeba Music