The Last Wave

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Movie Info

Peter Weir directed this illusory examination between "reality" and "dream-time" and a possible coming tidal wave that will destroy the world. Richard Chamberlain plays David Burton, a young Australian lawyer who is asked by Legal Aid to represent four Aboriginal youths who are accused of killing another Aborigine in a drunken brawl. Burton accepts the case, and he then proceeds to have a series of dreams in which one of the four defendants is trying to give him a sacred stone. As layers of reality are peeled away, Burton discovers that the killing was in retribution for the murder victim's theft of sacred stones. The stones resembled the one in Burton's recurring dream. Finally, Burton discovers that the murder weapon was neither a gun nor a knife, but a shaman's sacred bone -- the shaman pointed the bone at the victim and the victim died of a heart attack. As Burton unravels the case, he finds himself becoming more and more a part of the Aborigine's dream-time until realizing that he is a psychic member of an ancient Australian tribe that had disappeared long ago.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Peter Weir
Written By:

Tony Morphett, Petru Popescu, Peter Weir
In Theaters:

Dec 1, 1977 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Nov 13, 2001
Runtime:

106 minutes
Studio:

Cowboy Pictures

Cast

Richard Chamberlain
as David Burton

Olivia Hamnett
as Annie Burton

David Gulpilil
as Chris Lee

Frederick Parslow
as Rev. Burton

Nadjiwarra Amagula
as Charlie

Vivean Gray
as Dr. Whitburn

Nandjiwarra Amagula
as Charlie

Walter Amagula
as Gerry Lee

Roy Bara
as Larry

Cedric Lalara
as Lindsey

Morris Lalara
as Jacko

Peter Carroll
as Michael Zeadler

Athol Compton
as Billy Corman

Hedley Cullen
as Judge

Michael Duffield
as Andrew Potter

Wallas Eaton
as Morgue Doctor

Jo England
as Babysitter

John Frawley
as Policeman

Tony Llewellyn-Jones
as Guest at party

Jennifer de Greenlaw
as Zeadler's Secretary

Richard Henderson
as Prosecutor

Merv Lilley
as Publican

John Meagher
as Morgue Clerk

Guido Rametta
as Guido

Malcolm Robertson
as Don Fishburn

Greg Rowe
as Carl

Katrina Sedgwick
as Sophie Burton

Ingrid Weir
as Grace Burton

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Critic Reviews for The Last Wave

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (13) | Rotten (2)

Weir's touristy vision is strictly from the outside looking in.

Nov 27, 2001

Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
Top Critic
Its creepiness is undeniable, and it seems far less dated than many late 1970s films.

Feb 13, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Startling and mesmerizing Australian film about aborigines, nature and dreamtime.

Sep 1, 2002 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice
There's plenty of floods, thunderheads, cars submerged in water and heavy downpours to get yourself all wet on.

Jul 16, 2002 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
a unique film that bears the uneven, yet genuine, traces of a deeply felt work not entirely settled

Dec 16, 2001 | Rating: 3/4

James Kendrick
Q Network Film Desk
Weir does a fine job of weaving real events with dream sequences, as well as capturing the aboriginal perspective.

Nov 30, 2001 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

TV Guide
An interesting mixture of dreams and reality, of occult Aborigine tribal rituals and of modern-day Sydney.

Jun 13, 2001 | Full Review…

Boxoffice Magazine
Similar to Weir's previous film, Picnic at Hanging Rock, but not as powerful

Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: B- | Full Review…

Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

View All Critic Reviews (15)

Audience Reviews for The Last Wave

Oct 04, 2014

Peter Weir's, The Last Wave is filled with spiritual symbolism to demonstrate the tension between Australia's white man and the Aboriginal people. The film has a really chilly feeling, especially in the house. With a very eerie score and the feeling/reality of constantly being watched, much of the film can be unsettling with out a lot happening. The mystery actually has a lot of the same feel as Blue Velvet. It's hard for me to say to much that's deep, because honestly I didn't really like it. Many scenes felt way to over extended, mainly the end scene in the tribal sacred site. I did see some biblical symbolism, mainly the scene where it appears that it's raining frogs outside, reminded me of Moses. While the film might make the Aboriginal people appear as some voo-doo multi-prophet worshipers, the majority in reality are Christian or have no religious affiliation. I understand that the film is shown a select few who still believe in sacristy and aboriginal spirituality, but this isn't consistent with reality.

Daniel D Super Reviewer
Dec 19, 2011

A haunting character study about a pragmatic man who slowly becomes a believer the hard way. Engulfed by visions that connect him with the mysteries of the aboriginals and an apocalyptic prophecy. Not as well known as 'Picnic at hanging rock' but certainly better.

Pierluigi P Super Reviewer
Jul 13, 2011

This famous Australian auteur follows his audacious path with another exploration of the otherworldly. Sharing with us his fascination about that which goes beyond our comprehension, The Last Wave (exceptionally adequate title) is a unique contrast between what we give for granted and the uncertain. Make love to the ambiguous ending; a lot of truth is hidden in that last scene. 98/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer
Feb 22, 2009

Eerie apocalyptic thriller based loosely on Aboriginal mythology and with a none too subtle commentary on man's treatment of the planet. Weir's best film besides Fearless (no not the Jet Li movie).

A.D. V Super Reviewer