On the 14th February in the year 1900, a group of schoolgirls set out for their annual Valentine’s Day Picnic. Some were never to return…
What was the secret of Hanging Rock?
Every Valentine’s Day I’m reminded of my favourite Australian movie, Picnic At Hanging Rock, which is based on the book of the same name by Joan Lindsay.
When I first saw this haunting, eerie movie in the 70s, I was terrified. After many repeat viewings, it still creeps me out. I’ll do a longer post about this one day as it’s such a fascinating film and I also love Elvira Madigan which Picnic was heavily influenced by.
Picnic At Hanging Rock is my bookclub (Magic Hat Bookclub) pick this month. Joan Lindsay is a fascinating character and so I’m looking forward to this discussion.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08e9QqQP7sY]
But the Peter Weir movie will be forever associated in my mind with the 14th February. On this day every year, I see white dresses, corsets, elaborate cards, birds soaring in a brilliant blue sky, parasols, the menacing rock and the enigmatic Miranda.
A little bit of Rock trivia: Joan Lindsay married her husband on St Valentine’s Day. The day always had a special significance for her which is why she set her novel on the 14th February.
Enjoy the day and night dedicated to love.
I love this movie too! I remember the first time I saw it, I was in Primary School, and they screened it in the school library (which also doubled as our assembly hall/theatre) as our town didn’t have a movie theatre.
For years I believed it was a true story, and my mother must have too, because she pointed out to me the Missing poster of the girls, and said if I looked really closely, I’d be able to see the pictures weren’t of the same people as in the movie, they were the actual people who went missing & the posters they used in the movie were the actual posters from 1900. (Or else she was pulling my leg and at 7 or 8 years old I would’ve believed her anyway.)
I love Hanging Rock too. I’ve only been there a couple of times, but it’s such an eerie place, a great setting for such a mysterious story.
Hi Josephine, Anna R (my sister) used to live just down the road from there..We went there twice to spook ourselves and it really worked. Well the first time it was my whole family and we did have a picnic. Tthe next time was to take my husband and it was more spooky!. The place has a very strange feel to it-I am covered in goosebumps as I write this…….we have some excellent photos….
Oh I am intrigued! This is the first I’ve heard of it so thank you for the introduction. I love the old style of narration, it’s priceless! I can feel the creepy, just from the trailer, but it looks beautiful.
(Big thanks as well for the lovely comments on my blog!)
xxx