''Rooted'' is a made-for-TV Australian film based on the play by Alex Buzo.Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p133 It was produced for the

Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...

(ABC) and released in 1985.

Cast

*Kathleen Allen as Diane *

Shane Connor Shane Connor (born 3 April 1959) also billed/credited as Shane Feeney-Connor, is an Australian actor, who has had extensive experience in stage, television and film productions, both locally and internationally in the United Kingdom and United St ...

*James Laurie as Bentley *

Peter Mochrie Peter Mochrie (born 23 March 1959) is an Australian actor whose career spans over forty five years in the industry, primarily featuring in television serial dramas such as ''The Restless Years'', '' Water Rats'' and '' Janet King''. He has als ...

as Richard *

Genevieve Mooy Genevieve Mooy is an Australian actress. She has had a career on both stage and screen. Career Mooy has appeared in stage productions such as ''Coral Browne - This F***ing Lady'' and ''The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race.'' She was a regular ...

as Sandy *

Terry Serio Terry Serio is an Australian actor, director, musician and singer-songwriter. Career Film and television Serio's breakout role was as the lead, Mike in the 1982 Australian culture action film '' Running on Empty'', alongside Max Cullen and Pe ...

as Gary *Ian Spence

Production

Buzo was approached to make the film by

Alan Burke Alan S. Burke (September 15, 1922 – August 25, 1992) was an American conservative television and radio talk show host who was on the air primarily in New York City from 1966 to 1969 on WNEW-TV. Life He was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 19 ...

. "He approached me to do this for what I felt were all the right reasons," said Buzo. "I thought he would do it with style and flair, rather than being pedestrian and naturalistic. But I didn't breathe my sigh of relief with ''Rooted'' until I saw the final version." The film was set in Manly in the mid-sixties. According to Buzo, "I've been told ''Rooted'' hasn't dated, but with a telemovie it has got to have a more definite time and place." Buzo said making a telemovie was tough. "It is so silent, it is like swimming underwater. When I saw the rough cut I was a bit shocked because the film medium seems unsubstantial compared to the stage... I think the stage is more malleable; if something doesn't work you can change it immediately. If something doesn't work on television you just can't go back and change it." Buzo was happy with the end product. "If all television could turn out like this I would be very happy because if it bad been done badly it would have reflected on the play. If it is good, it's like having something embalmed, like having 'St Rooted'." The film remained stylised. "I hate the naturalism of all these mini-series," said Buzo. "It is so boring. I prefer things to be like ''Rooted'', more quirky, like a black comedy."

Reception

The Age's Jason Romney calls it "a perculiar mix of domestic drama, black comedy and social satire" and says "Although too long, Rooted is nonetheless a merciless examination of the social centrifuge that can send a man to the "outer"."

References

External links

* * * Australian television films 1985 television films 1985 films Australian films based on plays 1980s English-language films {{Australia-tv-film-stub