Comparing Hannie Rayson's Inheritance with Ivan Sen's Beneath Clouds
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The document compares Hannie Rayson's play 'Inheritance' and Ivan Sen's film 'Beneath Clouds,' highlighting their respective settings in Australia during times of rising conservatism and dominant political figures. It examines elements such as pacing, character development, themes of family dynamics and racism, and the creators' backgrounds. Both works explore conflicts, love, and violence, ultimately providing moral lessons on family and societal issues.
Comparing Hannie Rayson's Inheritance with Ivan Sen's Beneath Clouds
- 1. Comparing Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance with Ivan Sen’s Beneath Clouds
- 2. Text Type – Text basics • Hannie Rayson Inheritance Late 1990s Australia. Australia at this time is typified by a rising swell of conservatism and the emergence of Pauline Hanson onto the public consciousness, as well as the political scene. Put simply, racism was in. The play was published in 2003. • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Australia in 2002. At this time the Prime Minister was John Howard, and Australia was about to enter into the Iraq war. The film does not set up the time period of the film and it has minimal on a very simple, and intimate character portrait of Vaughn and Lina. The film was released in 2002. Setting Publication
- 3. Text Type – Text basics • Hannie Rayson Inheritance The pace is breakneck fast from the beginning of the play, with a great deal of dialogue, and minimal description of the scene to slow it down. Features flashbacks to the past. People are represented by what they say, minimal description of the characters are provided, except for their place within the family. • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds A slow, and peaceful pace throughout the film, with a focus on mood, and setting, until the last 10-15 minutes, where a great deal of action takes place. Is a very linear narrative. A great deal of meaning is gained without any words being exchanged. A focus on set, setting, and visuals. When the characters do speak it is brief, but illustrative of their character. Pacing Focus
- 4. Creators: Director / Playwright / Author • Hannie Rayson • A graduate of the University of Melbourne and the Victorian College of Arts. Also received an honorary doctorate of letters award. • Recipient of 7 literary awards. • Born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. • TV Writer: Seachange and Sloth (ABC, Seven Deadly Sins). • Ivan Sen • A graduate of the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS) • Nominated for 26 film awards, won 15. • European Father, Aboriginal mother, born and raised in Invernell, NSW, Australia.
- 5. Creators: Other Texts / Filmography / Play Bill • Hannie Rayson • Play Bill: Hotel Sorrento, Inheritance, Please return to sender, Falling from Grace, Life After George, The Glass Soldier, Leave it till Monday. +many more. • Ivan Sen • Filmography: Shorts: Dust, Wind, Tears Feature Films: Beneath Clouds, Dreamland, Toomelah, Mystery Road, Goldstone.
- 6. Creators: Style, and pre-occupations • Hannie Rayson 1) Social Commentary 2) Family as Microcosm for society 3) Anthropological style research 4) Class-wars 5) Racism • Ivan Sen 1) Insiders and Outsiders 2) The landscape as a character 3) Minimalist, non-crowded cinematography 4) Non-actors in key roles 5) Conflicts, violence and barriers
- 7. Plot – Acts of….. • Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance Acts of Conflict • Constant bickering over the inheritance. Acts of Love • When Felix comforts Lyle’s daughter. Acts of Violence • Lyle whips Felix. • Nugget hits Lyle with a shovel. • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Acts of Conflict • Lina is almost kidnapped by two men in a car. Vaughn spits in a policeman's face. Acts of Love • Vaughn and Lina embrace at the end of the film. Acts of Violence • Vaughn attacks the police officers. • Vaughn hits one of the Lina’s potential abductors in the face with a rock. • The story of the Aboriginals pushed off the mountain. Acts of Conflict Acts of Love Acts of Violence
- 8. Plot – Key Events • Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance • Orientation: The family converges on the farm at Allendale to celebrate Dib’s and Girlies 80th Birthday. • Complication: Farley dies, Dibs tears up the will, the inheritance is in dispute. • Resolution: Lyle commits suicide, the farm is sold, Maureen becomes a local member. • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds • Orientation: Vaughn is informed of his mothers illness in prison, he escapes • Complication: He meets Lina, they begin walking to Sydney, seeking a home. • Resolution: Lina and Vaughn are confronted by police officers, they attack the police and escape, Vaughn discovers his mother has likely died, the two part ways. Orientation Complication Resolution
- 9. Language Use • Hannie Rayson Inheritance Slang Homophobic remarks Swearing Racial slurs Colloquial • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Racist terms are used sparsely but with great force Swearing Uneducated language
- 10. Themes • Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance Unique themes Old people Family relationships Generation gaps Racism as comedic device The elderly Multiculturalism • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Unique themes Youth & Young people A lack of adult supervision Duo-Culture (Aboriginal and European-Australia) • Shared Themes Racism / Predjudice Family Problems Double Standards Indigeneity Dark Humour Difference and Acceptance Identity Growing up Discrimination Country versus City Identity
- 11. Motifs • Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance Swearing The inheritance Recipes and food Depression City versus country Farming knowledge Knowledge of the land (directions) Memories / the past • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Going home Finding mum (Vaughn), finding dad (Lina). The rock that Vaughn reaches for when threatened The road The police Dead animals
- 12. Symbols • Hannie Rayson Inheritance The farm Lawn Mower Nugget and Farley’s hat Pigeons The Mallee Pauline Hanson Eddie Mabo / The Mabo decision The noose Homophobia Plague of rats Two girls in Blue Magpies The whip The inheritance • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds Photo Album containing Lina’s pictures of her father The Mountain Introduced animals and plants The black cat and the horse Power lines Black Power / Pride Church and police The insects Earth Ground Countryside Church The road Fast cars
- 13. Rating • Hannie Rayson Inheritance MA15+ Strong coarse language Mild Violence Racist language Themes related to suicide • Ivan Sen Beneath Clouds M Mild coarse language Mild Violence Racist language Themes related to abductions *May contain names, images, or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- 14. Moral / Message / Lesson • Hannie Rayson’s Inheritance Family, both adopted and natural should stick together. The older generation cannot understand the younger generation. There are barriers that inhibit Aboriginal progress. • Ivan Sen’s Beneath Clouds Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t take your family for granted. The world isn’t black and white. The past echoes in the present. Australia has social problems that include racism.