''Initiation'' is a 1987 Australian

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by Michael Pearce based on his idea and starring

Bruno Lawrence David Charles Lawrence (12 February 194110 June 1995) known as Bruno Lawrence was an English-born musician and actor, who was active in the industry in New Zealand and Australia. Initially notable as a musician and founder of 1970s ensemble Bl ...

and

Rodney Harvey Rodney Michael Harvey (July 31, 1967 – April 11, 1998) was an American actor, model, and dancer. Career Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Harvey was discovered by director Paul Morrissey in 1984. Morrissey cast Harvey in two of his fi ...

.David Stratton, ''The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry'', Pan MacMillan, 1990 pp. 90–91

Plot synopsis

Teenager Danny Molloy visits his father Nat on a lonesome farm in Australia after the death of his mother, who lives with a girlfriend and her daughter Stevie. Because work on the farm isn't going well, Nat begins to smuggle marijuana for a drug connection and so Danny catches a flight with him, only for the plane to crash in the middle of nowhere. Since his father is wounded, Danny has to search for help alone in the jungle.

Cast

as Danny Molloy *

as Nat Molloy *

Miranda Otto Miranda Otto (born 16 December 1967) is an Australian actress. She is the daughter of actors Barry and Lindsay Otto and the paternal half-sister of actress Gracie Otto. Otto began her acting career in 1986 at age 18 and appeared in a variety of ...

as Stevie *Arna-Maria Winchester as Sal *Bobby Smith as Kulu *

Tony Barry Tony Barry (28 August 1941 – 21 December 2022) was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles. Personal life Barry was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 28 August 1941. He had one son. Barry was an environmen ...

as Pat *

Luciano Catenacci Luciano Catenacci (13 April 1933 – 4 October 1990) was an Italian actor and production manager who worked on mainly Italian produced films during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Life and career Born in Rome, Catenacci started his career as ...

as Carlo

Production

The film was shot in Adelaide and the Blue Mountains. It was completed in January 1987.

Release

The film was pre-sold to US distributor Goldfarb for $850,000 but Goldfarb later backed out of this commitment claiming they did not have the money.GOLDFARB RENEGES ON PRE-SALE DEBT By MARK LAWSON ''Australian Financial Review'' 28 April 1988 p 36TAX CONCESSIONS ARE GOOD, BUT FILMS CARRY RISK AS WELL by Anne Lampe ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 15 July 1987 p 26

Accolades

Bobby Smith was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 1987 AFI Awards.

References

External links

*
''Initiation''
at Oz Movies Australian adventure drama films 1980s English-language films 1980s Australian films {{1980s-Australia-film-stub