Sirens (1994)

When a painting is termed blasphemous, a young minister and his wife visit the artist... and the three sexually playful models living with him.

Director:

John Duigan

Writer:

John Duigan

Stars:

Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Sam Neill

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Grant	...	Anthony Campion
Tara Fitzgerald	...	Estella Campion
Sam Neill	...	Norman Lindsay
Elle Macpherson	...	Sheela
Portia de Rossi	...	Giddy / Maid (as Portia De Rossi)
Tziporah Malkah	...	Pru (as Kate Fischer)
Pamela Rabe	...	Rose Lindsay
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Lewis
Mark Gerber	...	Devlin- Blind Man
John Polson	...	Tom
Julia Stone	...	Jane
Ellie MacCarthy	...	Honey
Vincent Ball	...	Bishop of Sydney
John Duigan	...	Earnest Minister
Lexy Murphy	...	British Bulldog Girl

Storyline

Anthony, a young reverend and his wife, Estella are on the way from England to Australia to minister to their flock. The bishop asks him to visit Norman, an eccentric artist prone to sexual depictions and requests that he voluntarily withdraw a controversial work call "Crucified Venus" from his show. The minister, who considers himself a progressive, is shocked at the amoral atmosphere surrounding the painter, his wife, and the three models living at his estate. The minister's wife is troubled also, and has to deal with latent sexual urges while trying to remain loyal to her husband.

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Plot Keywords:

nude modeling | australia | nude swimming | sexually dissatisfied wife | artist | 

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Taglines:

The enchanting new comedy from John Duigan [USA Theatrical]

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

A rejected score was composed by Geoffrey Burgon.

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Goofs

In the first dining room scene, as Norman leaves the table, Giddy offers Estella some tea. Moments later in the scene, as Tony is speaking, Giddy and Estella can be seen repeating the action in the background.

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Quotes

Anthony Campion: I think some things are best left unsaid.
Estella Campion: But that means we'll always be strangers.
Anthony Campion: No, not really. Only small parts of us.
Estella Campion: The bad parts?
Anthony Campion: No, I think it's good to have a few secrets.
Estella Campion: Do you?
Anthony Campion: Mm. That way, in 50 years time, we'll still be able to surprise each other.

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Crazy Credits

During the opening credits, the names are "erased" by the two men walking down the hall to the right.

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Connections

Referenced in Kicking and Screaming (1995)

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Soundtracks

MARCH PAST OF THE KITCHEN UTENSILS, from WASPS
Written by Ralph Vaughan Williams
J. Curwen & Sons Ltd.
Used by permission of Faber Music Limited, London
Performed by The Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Patrick Thomas
Courtesy of Australian Broadcasting Corporation

User Reviews

A Provocative Moral Statement

While this film is often not taken seriously because of its explicit nudity, it is in fact one of the most thought-provoking commentaries on religious values I have ever seen on the screen. This film provides us with the stark contrast of the repressed preacher from London and the artist's three models in rural Australia, a throwback to Shakespeare's "Green World." The fulcrum of this contrast is the preacher's wife, being pulled in both the oppressive, "moral" direction by her upbringing and her husband and the free and expressive direction of the artist. The breathtaking cinematography and stunning visual symbolism of this film contribute to make it into a powerful attack on the Christian moral code that dominates western thinking. I have been scoffed at on more than one occasion for praising Sirens, but I left the theater questioning my own views about what is and is not moral. The fact that this film's sexual content seems to invalidate it as art in many people's eyes merely underscores the value of its message. Along with Sling Blade, Sirens to me stands as the most provocative film about morality made in the 1990's. A solid 8 on a scale of 1 to 10.

Details

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sirens

Filming Locations:

Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$34,299, 6 March 1994

Gross USA:

$7,770,731

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,770,731

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Screen Finance Ltd., Samson Productions Pty. Ltd., Sarah Radclyffe Productions - Sirens Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1