Sunday Too Far Away

Sunday Too Far Away is an influential Australian film released in 1975, directed by Ken Hannam, and stars renowned actor Jack Thompson. The movie also features Max Cullen, Robert Bruning, and Reg Lye, among others, turning in compelling performances that contribute to the film's overall success.

A significant film in the "Australia New Wave" of cinema, the movie explores the life and strife of Australian shearers during the mid-20th century. Sunday Too Far Away is a beautiful blend of drama and adventure that offers a strategic perspective into capturing the period's soul and showing the demanding, uncertain life of itinerant workers in outback Australia.

In the film, lead actor Jack Thompson delivers one of his most memorable performances as Foley, a hard-drinking, tough, yet sensitive shearer. Considered an ageing gun-shearer, his character has to struggle with the harshness of his work, the isolation imposed by the outback, the constant pressure from landing contracts, and the tension emanating from the encroaching mechanisation that threatens his livelihood.

Foley, who relies heavily on his skills, reputation and tools concerning hand wool shearing, encounters not only professional crisis but also personal as he navigates the ups and downs of camaraderie, rivalry, and relationships that materialise within the itinerant shearing lifestyle.

As the film progresses, the story takes a deeper dive into Foley's world, helping viewers better understand his determination, resilience, and constant conflict with life. The movie also delves into Foley's friendships and wild antics with his shearing mates, notably Tom (played by Max Cullen) and Tim King (played by Robert Bruning), reflecting upon the collective experience while emphasizing the individual journeys.

Sunday Too Far Away is a stirring, emotional journey that presents the textures and hardships of shearers' life in a beautifully cinematic form. The film’s attention to detail makes the personal struggles come alive on the screen, from the physically demanding act of shearing to the equally challenging act of retaining one's dignity and patience through adversity.

Director Ken Hannam and writer John Dingwall excel in portraying a vivid picture of the camaraderie within the shearers' community while also addressing the harsh reality of their daily lives. The film encapsulates the sense of isolation these men feel—the vast stretches of the outback become emblematic of their internal state.

Besides the story and enactment, Sunday Too Far Away also excels in its cinematography. The essence of the distinct Australian landscape is beautifully integrated into the narrative. Director of Photography Ian Baker does a brilliant job of capturing the brittle beauty of the vast outback—that, though picturesque, is a harsh and demanding mistress.

The movie is a celebrated piece of Australian cinematic history, an early example of the Australian Film Renaissance in the 1970s, and is indeed much revered for depicting the rural lifestyle of the country realistically. Jack Thompson's performance in Sunday Too Far Away was widely acclaimed, earning him an award for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Australian Film Institute Awards.

In many ways, the film is a metaphor for a time that's passing—or, perhaps, has already passed. It portrays Foley's battle not just against the exacting physical demands of his job but also the inexorable march of time and technology.

Sunday Too Far Away stands out for its authentic portrayal of struggle and survival, friendship and rivalry, hope and despair. More than just a film, it serves as a time capsule, capturing a piece of Australia's history and cultural identity that shares universal themes of change, adaptation, and endurance. It is a gripping tale of camaraderie and isolation that shows the endurance spirit of the shearers in the face of constant challenges, both personal and professional.