POPCORN TAXI PRESENTS
May 5th 2009 07:05
A very special screening and live Q&A on the
'70s cult classic they tried to ban...
PURE SHIT
Monday May 11 - 7pm
Greater Union, Bondi Junction
Filmed on a budget of AU$28,000, PURE SHIT was the first film to really expose the Australian drug culture. Set in 1970’s Melbourne, the story follows the four youth’s on a 24 hour rampage robbing and stealing their way in their search for the ultimate hit.
Continued speculation has surrounded this film over the decades since first being released in 1975. A film ahead of it’s time, this style of guerilla filmmaking has become a standard in the industry today. With the intensity increasing with each scene, this black comedy’s graphic scenes portraying drug use and extreme referencing of the rising drug culture in Australia still only in it’s infancy, this film is as relevant to today’s audiences as it was when it was made 35 years ago.
Verging on documentary in its style, the release in 1975 caused a huge outrage among the conservative public of the day with its first screening actually raided by the vice squad before being banned from cinemas. Originally deemed unclassifiable, the censorship board then forced the title changed to PURE S… and slapped an R rating on it but even with all the controversy surrounding the film it was still unable to recoup its budget.
With cameo appearances by Max Gillies, well known for his biting social satire as well as writer Helen Garner, and a young Greg Pickhaver ( better known today as HG Nelson) the film became a favourite on the touring circuit as well as finding its way into the hearts of avid film fans.
Anyone growing up in the late 70’s and very early 80’s knew of the film and searched for a copy. Underground screenings of a slowly deprecating print continued via the Australian underground scene ensuring it’s place as one of the most influential films to come out during the ‘renaissance’ of Australian and New Zealand cinema in the 70’s.
And the film scholars at Popcorn agree. “PURE SHIT has permeated the work of film directors Rolf DeHeer (BAD BOY BUBBY), Richard Lowenstein (DOGS IN SPACE) and Jon Hewitt (REDBALL) – not to mention the obvious homage in Gus Van Sant’s DRUGSTORE COWBOY”
Now those same devotees at POPCORN have finally acquired a fully restored 16mm 'Z' print of Pure Shit courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive with a rare one off screening set to take place Monday May 11 with a Q&A to follow. Fans and first timers will be able to ‘shoot’ questions at director Bert Deling, actor Gary Waddell, editor John Scott (Sexy Beast) and composer Martin Armiger after the screening. Hosted by Jaimie Leonarder (FBI's 'The Naked City', Mu-Meson Archives)
*PURE SHIT LIVE Q&A! *
Rated: (MA)
Time: 7:00pm SHARP!
Date: Monday, 11th May
Where: Greater Union, Bondi Junction
Address: Level 6, 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction
Price: $19 / $17 concession
Tickets available now from
www.popcorntaxi.com.au
"The most evil film I've ever seen!" - Andrew McKay - 1970's Melbourne Herald film critic
"Crawl over five miles of dirty heroin syringes to see it!" - Bob Ellis
Watch the films and meet their makers at Popcorn Taxi film screenings. Cult, classic and new releases followed by question and answer sessions with select cast and crew. Entering their tenth year, Popcorn Taxi events are held nationally.
For more information visit -
www.popcorntaxi.com.au.
'70s cult classic they tried to ban...
PURE SHIT
Monday May 11 - 7pm
Greater Union, Bondi Junction
PLUS: an audience Q&A after
the movie with
Bert Deling (director)
Gary Whaddell (actor and star)
John Scott (editor, "Sexy Beast")
Martin Armiger (composer)
- former member of 'Sports'
all live on stage after the film!
the movie with
Bert Deling (director)
Gary Whaddell (actor and star)
John Scott (editor, "Sexy Beast")
Martin Armiger (composer)
- former member of 'Sports'
all live on stage after the film!
Filmed on a budget of AU$28,000, PURE SHIT was the first film to really expose the Australian drug culture. Set in 1970’s Melbourne, the story follows the four youth’s on a 24 hour rampage robbing and stealing their way in their search for the ultimate hit.
Continued speculation has surrounded this film over the decades since first being released in 1975. A film ahead of it’s time, this style of guerilla filmmaking has become a standard in the industry today. With the intensity increasing with each scene, this black comedy’s graphic scenes portraying drug use and extreme referencing of the rising drug culture in Australia still only in it’s infancy, this film is as relevant to today’s audiences as it was when it was made 35 years ago.
Verging on documentary in its style, the release in 1975 caused a huge outrage among the conservative public of the day with its first screening actually raided by the vice squad before being banned from cinemas. Originally deemed unclassifiable, the censorship board then forced the title changed to PURE S… and slapped an R rating on it but even with all the controversy surrounding the film it was still unable to recoup its budget.
With cameo appearances by Max Gillies, well known for his biting social satire as well as writer Helen Garner, and a young Greg Pickhaver ( better known today as HG Nelson) the film became a favourite on the touring circuit as well as finding its way into the hearts of avid film fans.
Anyone growing up in the late 70’s and very early 80’s knew of the film and searched for a copy. Underground screenings of a slowly deprecating print continued via the Australian underground scene ensuring it’s place as one of the most influential films to come out during the ‘renaissance’ of Australian and New Zealand cinema in the 70’s.
And the film scholars at Popcorn agree. “PURE SHIT has permeated the work of film directors Rolf DeHeer (BAD BOY BUBBY), Richard Lowenstein (DOGS IN SPACE) and Jon Hewitt (REDBALL) – not to mention the obvious homage in Gus Van Sant’s DRUGSTORE COWBOY”
Now those same devotees at POPCORN have finally acquired a fully restored 16mm 'Z' print of Pure Shit courtesy of the National Film and Sound Archive with a rare one off screening set to take place Monday May 11 with a Q&A to follow. Fans and first timers will be able to ‘shoot’ questions at director Bert Deling, actor Gary Waddell, editor John Scott (Sexy Beast) and composer Martin Armiger after the screening. Hosted by Jaimie Leonarder (FBI's 'The Naked City', Mu-Meson Archives)
*PURE SHIT LIVE Q&A! *
Rated: (MA)
Time: 7:00pm SHARP!
Date: Monday, 11th May
Where: Greater Union, Bondi Junction
Address: Level 6, 500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction
Price: $19 / $17 concession
Tickets available now from
www.popcorntaxi.com.au
"The most evil film I've ever seen!" - Andrew McKay - 1970's Melbourne Herald film critic
"Crawl over five miles of dirty heroin syringes to see it!" - Bob Ellis
Watch the films and meet their makers at Popcorn Taxi film screenings. Cult, classic and new releases followed by question and answer sessions with select cast and crew. Entering their tenth year, Popcorn Taxi events are held nationally.
For more information visit -
www.popcorntaxi.com.au.
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