ETERNITY

Eternity tells the story of Arthur Stace, a man who for decades wandered the streets of Sydney, writing in perfect copperplate script the word 'Eternity' in yellow chalk. Regarded by some as a man saved by Christianity, and by others as a mystical obsessive, Stace is discussed by Sydney identities who knew of him and remembered seeing the elusive/effusive word 'Eternity' written on pavements.

Stace grew up in an abusive environment, and after returning from military service in the First World War, he hit the streets and hit the bottle, until one day his life's purpose revealed itself after coming into contact with an evangelical Christian minister. So away he went, writing the word 'Eternity' more than 500,000 times on the city pavements.

This is Melbourne filmmaker Lawrence Johnston's first work since his award winning student short film, Night Out (MIFF 90). It displays a similar penchant for the film noir look, and a strong command of visual language. Much of the film consists of carefully constructed period re-enactments woven into news clippings and contemporary documentary interviews.

Eternity is an impressive piece of work and heralds Johnson as a major new talent in Australian filmmaking.