Bliss **** (1985, Barry Otto, Lynette Curran, Helen Jones) – Classic Movie Review 8817

Director Ray Lawrence’s 1985 provocative Australian fantasy comedy drama Bliss is an Australian Film Institute Best Film/ Best Director/ Best Adapted Screenplay-winner about an adman who tries to shake himself to life again after the near-death experience of a heart attack but wonders if he has gone to hell.

Bliss is a slack super-charged satire, with wild, outrageous, offbeat black humour. But it is redeemed with some sharp scenes, a stylish edge and a superb, central performance from Barry Otto as the advertising executive Harry Joy that is both appealing and affecting, with Lynette Curran (as Bettina Joy), Kerry Walker and Jon Ewing also giving outstanding performances.

The screenplay by Ray Lawrence and Peter Carey is from the novel by Peter Carey.

Also in the cast are Helen Jones as Honey Barbara, Miles Buchanan as David Joy, Gia Carides as Lucy Joy, Tim Robertson, Jeff Truman and Bryan Marshall, Paul Chubb and Saskia Post.

Audiences walked out of the cinemas because the controversial sexual content of the unedited original version. But, once heavily edited, the film was an Australian sleeper hit, after winning critical acclaim and awards.

There were another 10 Australian Film Institute award (1985) nominations – an astounding 13 in all. And the film was a nominee for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (1985).

The running time is 112 minutes, or 130 minutes in the director’s cut, or 135 minutes (original version screened at the Cannes Film Festival).

Bliss is directed by Ray Lawrence, runs 112 minutes or 130 minutes (director’s cut) or 135 minutes (original version), is made by Window III Productions and New South Wales Film Corporation, is released by New South Wales Film Corporation (1985) (Australia) and New World Pictures (1986) (US), is written by Ray Lawrence and Peter Carey, is shot by Paul Murphy, is produced by Anthony Buckley, is scored by Peter Best and is designed by Owen Paterson.

Ray Lawrence was born in 1948 in England and is known for Bliss (1985), Lantana (2001) and Jindabyne (2006).

Barry Otto was born in 1941 in Brisbane and is the father of actress Miranda Otto.

RIP Bryan Marshall (1938–2019).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8817

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