Backlash (1986 film)

Backlash
Directed by	Bill Bennett
Written by	Bill Bennett
Produced by	Bill Bennett
Starring	David Argue Gia Carides
Cinematography	Tony Wilson
Edited by	Denise Hunter
Music by	Michael Atkinson Michael Spicer
Distributed by	Dendy Films
Release date	1986
Running time	89 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	AU $225,000[1]

Backlash is a 1986 Australian film directed by Bill Bennett.

Plot[]

Police officers Trevor Darling (David Argue) and Nikki Iceton (Gia Carides) escort a young Aboriginal woman Kath (Lydia Miller) to the New South Wales outback to stand trial. After getting stranded in the desert a bond grows between them. By the time they are rescued, both Nikki and Trevor believe Kath is innocent.

Cast[]

• David Argue as Trevor Darling
• Gia Carides as Nikki Iceton
• Lydia Miller as Kath
• Brian Syron as The Executioner

Production[]

Bill Bennett had raised $175,000 from the BBC and ABC to make a documentary about black tracker Jimmy James but was reluctant to proceed. He came up with the idea for the film and wondered if he could use the money to make a feature. Bennett got approval from the tax department and most investors to do this, with J C Williamson Ltd stepping in for the BBC and ABC. The final $50,000 of the budget came from Bennett himself.^[1]

Bennett wanted to add some levity in the material and so cast David Argue, who had impressed him on stage. He was impressed by Gia Carides' improvisational skills in theatresports and cast her to act alongside him. Nurse Lydia Miller rounded out the main cast.^[1]

During filming out near Broken Hill Bennett often clashed with David Argue, who quit a week before shooting ended. However he came back and completed the film.^[1]

Much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors on location.^[2]

Release[]

Bennett won 2 awards at the 1987 Cognac Festival du Film Policier for the film.^[3] The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.^[4]

Bennett later claimed it was one of the most profitable films he had made.^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• Backlash at IMDb
• Backlash at Oz Movies

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