Picnic at Hanging Rock Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Four ladies go for a picnic, three vanish into a rock, and everyone left behind overreacts in increasingly melodramatic fashion.

🍿 Picnic at Hanging Rock: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Scene: Appleyard College, 1900

The film introduces Appleyard College, a strict girls’ boarding school in rural Victoria, Australia, in 1900. Headmistress Mrs. Appleyard maintains rigid control, while students like Miranda and Sara navigate the stifling atmosphere. The contrast between the girls’ youthful energy and the school’s oppressive rules sets the stage for the unfolding mystery.

The Valentine’s Day Picnic

On Valentine’s Day, the girls embark on a picnic to Hanging Rock, a striking geological formation. As they explore, Miranda, Marion, Irma, and teacher Miss McCraw venture further, drawn by an unseen force. The sense of unease grows as the landscape seems to exert a mysterious influence.

Disappearance and Aftermath

The girls and Miss McCraw vanish without a trace, leaving the remaining students and staff in disarray. Edith, a student who accompanied them partway, returns terrified but unable to explain what happened. The disappearance sparks a wave of hysteria, suspicion, and ultimately, tragedy as the school and its inhabitants grapple with the unexplained event.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Miranda St Clare (Anne-Louise Lambert): A beautiful and ethereal student whose disappearance is the catalyst for the film’s events and the focus of much speculation.
• Mrs. Appleyard (Rachel Roberts): The stern and controlling headmistress of Appleyard College, whose rigid facade crumbles under the pressure of the disappearances.
• Sara Waybourne (Margaret Nelson): A student and orphan at Appleyard College, who is infatuated with Miranda, and becomes increasingly isolated and vulnerable.
• Irma (Karen Robson): One of the students who disappears on Hanging Rock, later found with no memory of the events.
• Marion Quade (Jane Vallis): A student who disappears on Hanging Rock along with Miranda, Irma and Miss McCraw.
• Miss Greta McCraw (Vivean Gray): The mathematics mistress who disappears along with the students during the excursion to Hanging Rock.
• Michael Fitzhubert (Dominic Guard): A young Englishman who becomes obsessed with the disappearance of Miranda and joins the search.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Miranda: “What we see and what we seem are but a dream, a dream within a dream.” – Opening lines of the film, setting the tone for the film’s exploration of reality and illusion.
• Miranda: “Everything begins and ends at exactly the right time and place.” – Miranda’s philosophical acceptance of fate and the unfolding events.
• Mrs. Appleyard: “Miranda is not only the most advanced pupil, but the most amenable.” – Highlights Mrs Appleyard’s dependence on and trust of Miranda.

💰Box Office

• Budget: A$440,000
• Domestic Gross: $83,212
• Worldwide Gross: $142,666

💥 Picnic at Hanging Rock Reviews

Personal Review

I watched ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ late one night, and I was completely mesmerized. The way the camera glides through the landscapes and the ethereal music created such an unsettling, dreamlike mood. When the girls disappeared, I felt this wave of sadness, like a beautiful dream turning sour. It’s stayed with me ever since. I still think about that movie, what really happened and what it all meant. It’s not just a movie; it’s an experience.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of atmospheric mystery films”
  • “Those interested in Australian cinema”
  • “Viewers who appreciate open endings”
  • “People who like period dramas”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Brief nudity”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Suicide”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “A haunting mystery exploring the chasm between European settlers and the ancient, enigmatic Australian landscape. The movie eschews clear answers, opting for an immersive experience heightened by beautiful cinematography and subtle unease. It’s a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.
• Pauline Kael: “Ethereal and visually stunning, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ captures the dreamy atmosphere of repressed Victorian sexuality amidst the wild beauty of the Australian outback. Weir’s direction creates a sense of impending doom, though its narrative ambiguity might frustrate some viewers.

Audience Reactions

The film’s haunting atmosphere and dreamlike visuals left viewers spellbound.: The cinematography, costumes, and sense of mystery were highly praised.

Viewers debated the meaning and resolution, finding the ambiguity both intriguing and frustrating.: The lack of closure sparked numerous interpretations and discussions among viewers.

Overall Consensus: A visually stunning and atmospheric film that leaves audiences pondering the mystery of the missing girls, while simultaneously frustrated and captivated by its open-ended nature.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Russell Boyd achieved the film’s distinctive soft focus by placing bridal veil over the camera lens.”
• “The film is based on a novel by Joan Lindsay, which was marketed as a true story, adding to the film’s mystique, though it’s entirely fictional.”
• “The 14th of February 1900, the day of the picnic, was actually a Wednesday, not a Saturday, as depicted in the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Picnic at Hanging Rock?

As a classic film, ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings or streaming services for availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Picnic at Hanging Rock, you might like these similar films:

• The Virgin Suicides (1999): Explores similar themes of repressed sexuality, the mystique of young women, and unexplained disappearances within a specific time period.
• A Passage to India (1984): Features a mystery surrounding a young woman in an exotic landscape and explores the cultural tensions between colonizers and the native environment.
• Black Swan (2010): Psychological horror elements with themes of repression, a loss of control and a descent into madness.
• The Beguiled (1971): Tale of repressed sexuality and hidden menace within a secluded all-girls’ school.

🛒 Picnic at Hanging Rock Related Products

• Picnic at Hanging Rock (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: A high-definition transfer of the director’s cut, loaded with insightful extras, including documentaries and interviews.
• Picnic at Hanging Rock (Novel) by Joan Lindsay: Explore the original novel that inspired the film, offering a richer understanding of the characters and the story’s ambiguous themes. Delve deeper into the world of Appleyard College.
• Hanging Rock, Victoria – Travel Poster: Capture the mystique of Hanging Rock with a vintage-style travel poster.
• The Complete Picnic at Hanging Rock Soundtrack: Download the official soundtrack, featuring both Bruce Smeaton’s original score and classical pieces.

🎧 Soundtrack

Picnic at Hanging Rock features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 2nd Movement” – performed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• “Original Score Selections” – performed by Bruce Smeaton
• “El Condor Pasa” – performed by Gheorghe Zamfir

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Picnic at Hanging Rock – Ascent Theme Music with Whoosh!

Ever tried finding just the music from Picnic at Hanging Rock without all the talking? This fan recreation of the ‘Ascent’ theme is amazing, and they even added a little ‘whoosh’ sound effect. It’s so good!

Picnic at Hanging Rock : Ascent Theme – Sheet Music + PDF

Want to learn how to play the haunting ‘Ascent’ theme from Picnic at Hanging Rock? This video not only recreates the music but also gives you the sheet music! Now you can try playing it yourself!

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