Ground Zero (1987)

A second generation cameraman in Australia finds evidence that his father had filmed a nuclear test that allowed aboriginies to be exposed to and killed by radiation. He begins a search for... See full summary »

Directors:

Bruce Myles, Michael Pattinson

Writers:

Mac Gudgeon, Jan Sardi

Stars:

Colin Friels, Jack Thompson, Donald Pleasence

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Friels	...	Harvey Denton
Jack Thompson	...	Trebilcock
Donald Pleasence	...	Prosper Gaffney
Natalie Bate	...	Pat Denton
Burnham Burnham	...	Charlie
Simon Chilvers	...	Commission president
Neil Fitzpatrick	...	Hooking
Bob Maza	...	Walemari
Beverley Dunn	...	Commisioner #1
Alan Hopgood	...	Commisioner #2
Peter Cummins	...	Ballantyne, Australian veteran
Brian James	...	Vice-Adm. Windsor
Bob Hornery	...	Meteorologist
Steve Dodd	...	Freddy Tjapalijarri
Alfred Austen	...	Aboriginal elder

Storyline

A second generation cameraman in Australia finds evidence that his father had filmed a nuclear test that allowed aboriginies to be exposed to and killed by radiation. He begins a search for a secret that if true, his government has already killed people to keep quiet.

---

Plot Keywords:

australia | flat | cameraman | search | aborigine | 

---

Taglines:

Once you know the secret of Ground Zero, maybe the British will try to kill you, too.

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 October 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ground Zero.

Filming Locations:

Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 7,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$203,144 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BDB, Ground Zero, The Hoyts-Burrowes Film Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was mainly filmed during June and July 1986 with some filming still being done right up until September 1986.

---

Connections

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

User Reviews

heavy-handed Australian drama

An intelligent thriller is a rare thing these days, at least on the evidence of this well-intentioned but pedestrian story of nuclear paranoia and bureaucratic conspiracy, in which an innocent Australian cameraman uncovers a few radioactive skeletons in the closet of his country's atomic testing program. The Aussie government apparently has been hiding the details about native Aborigine victims of radiation fallout, but because the secret is out at the beginning of the movie there's no surprise and very little suspense: each new development in the already linear plot is introduced in sequence, with handy cues of ominous music to help viewers connect the dots. The script relies too much on convenient expository bulletins (television news broadcasts; telephone answering machine messages; home movies and so forth), and identifies too strongly with its hero, who like any unassuming TV cameraman is transformed into James Bond when under stress. A strong cast and attractive wide screen photography can't hide the wasted opportunity to expose an ugly true story and turn it into compelling fiction.