The Thousands

It’s ironic that some of the most recognisable faces in Not Quite Hollywood are American. Why does Quentin Tarantino know more about Australian genre cinema than we do? A nationwide awkwardness about our own film history has distracted us from this stash of glittery fool’s gold for far too long.

This Melbourne-produced doco celebration of the glory days of ‘70s and ‘80s Australian trash film captures the devil-may-care gleefulness of its subject matter. Some of these titles may be familiar from recent DVD releases, but others – Fair Game, Centrespread, Lady Stay Dead and Dead End Drive-In – will be hazy recollections of VHS-hire, memories faded as the quality of their prints.

Not Quite Hollywood was chosen to launch this year’s MIFF, but thank Tarantino it’s getting a general release. This is Pop Culture History 101 for Australian audiences, and should be screened on a 24-hour loop on all major television networks until we all sign a contract promising to never let the sombre, earnest art-wank of films like Somersault, Japanese Story and Picnic at Hanging Rock distract us from gems like Razorback, Patrick and Next of Kin ever again.