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 (as Portia De Rossi)
Tziporah Malkah	...	Pru (as Kate Fischer)
Pamela Rabe	...	Rose Lindsay
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Lewis
John Polson	...	Tom
Mark Gerber	...	Devlin
Julia Stone	...	Jane
Ellie MacCarthy	...	Honey
Vincent Ball	...	Bishop of Sydney
John Duigan	...	Earnest Minister
Lexy Murphy	...	British Bulldog Girl

Storyline

A young reverend and his wife are on the way from England to Australia to minister to their flock. The bishop asks him to visit 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | nude modeling | female exhibitionist | female removes her clothes | clothed female naked male | 

---

Taglines:

Be seduced.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality, language and some violence

Details

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sirenas

Filming Locations:

Australia

Box Office

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was filmed primarily at the real Norman Lindsay's home and 49 acre property, where he lived until his death in 1969. It is now a museum and art gallery.

---

Goofs

As Sheela and Pru leave with their dates, Giddy can be seen sitting with her hands in her lap. In the next shot, her elbow is on the table with her hand against her face.

---

Quotes

Sheela: [talking about an outhouse] I should have warned him about the redbacks.
Estella Campion: What are they?
Sheela: Small spiders with big teeth. They live under toilet seats usually.
Estella Campion: How do you know if they're there?
Sheela: By the screams.

---

Connections

Referenced in Kicking and Screaming (1995)

---

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

...almost everyday for 1 1/2 years, I watched "Sirens"...

I personally believe this film is "so" subtle that it cruises under the scope of the average person - no insult intended! So many say they "liked this film but..." just goes to show how subtle this film really is. The photography is absolutely breathtaking. Film stills would make such a collage - oy! The acting is so right on and precise from each and every actor - the characters so well defined. The story is so exquisitely told...! During the whole movie, I kept expecting that statue (you know the one!) to take off walking. At the end, in the dream sequence when the statue stepped down from her pedestal and walked off into the mist, it nearly blew my mind! The way the story switches back & forth between conscious & unconscious day-to-day experiences so seamlessly amazes me. I fell totally in love w/this movie. I went thru a stage of watching it at least once a day for about 1 1/2 years - almost w/out fail! I am married to an artist. I have been his model. I am a woman. This film speaks to these matters with such clarity it's truly amazing. The transition Tara Fitzgerald's character goes thru in waking up to her womanhood is also an integral and major part of the story. The symbolism of the painting of the dual woman - and her being awakened each night by something in the natural/instinctive world calling her to consciousness. Lucid dreaming - becoming conscious thru internal knowledges calling forth her true nature. Please forgive me for not writing in complete proper syntax. I'm usually much better at expressing myself than this. But my relationship with this film is so very personal as to be abstract in tho't. Plus, I've never tried to express my feelings about "Sirens" before. I am almost shocked when I read that some of you think it was less than a "10"! "Predictable"?! Maybe you are more on the ball than I am and than I am giving you credit for. Pardon me please! This is "one" of the all time best movies ever - for me anyway! And - really! - when the preacher & his wife arrive - one of the first people to greet them on their mission is the old fella on the car bumper with,"Get f***ed!" Ya gotta love that!