Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds (1989)

Brother and sister endure alone together in a post-apocalyptic Outback until the sudden arrival of a stranger.

Director:

Alex Proyas

Writer:

Alex Proyas

Stars:

Michael Lake, Melissa Davis, Norman Boyd

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Lake	...	Felix Crabtree
Melissa Davis	...	Betty Crabtree
Norman Boyd	...	Smith (as The Norm)
Rhys Davis

Storyline

Brother and sister endure alone together in a post-apocalyptic Outback until the sudden arrival of a stranger.

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Plot Keywords:

stranger | australian apocalyptic | australian science fiction | male female relationship | post apocalypse | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1989 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Espíritus del aire, gremlins de las nubes

Filming Locations:

Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Meaningful Eye Contact Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Felix Crabtree: You don't get it. It's so easy. All you gotta do is... look up. Nothing else matters. Don't you see?

User Reviews

Like a dream, some things can only be experienced to understand

This film has some of the most beautiful imagery and haunting music ever. (Not to overstate it or anything) A three hander set in a post apocalyptic Oz outback (but one which is wildly more fantastical than Mad Max), Spirits of the Air tells the story of Smith, a stranger on the run who happens upon Felix and Betty, far into the desert.

All around them are amazing images of cars buried into the ground like totems, huge flags blowing madly in the desert wind and their house itself is of the old oz pioneer style but decorated everywhere with crucifixes. Felix is an inventor obsessed with flight and making a glider, an obsession which has already left him in a wheel chair. Betty is one of the truly great film characters, just an absolute tripper - I can't describe her but the performance is a delight.

This is not a fast film, it is not action packed but is intense - the imagery and art direction are beautiful, the writing is distinct and very Australian but still universal, the soundtrack is haunting (a lot of windsound montages with a simple tune used to great effect) and the performances are both real and surreal.

Until you see this film (and for those who have enjoyed the increasingly brilliant work of Alex Proyas, you really should) you won't know what you are missing.

(By the way, to the @$#%ing mongrel who stole my Japanese import copy of the soundtrack on CD may you be locked in a room with Betty for a very long time)