STARSTRUCK

Two teenagers in Sydney try to break into the music biz and save the family pub in this iconic and colourful musical comedy directed by Gillian Armstrong.

Following her first feature, the period classic My Brilliant Career, then up-and-coming director Gillian Armstrong was keen to try something different. Starstruck is the delightful result.

Jackie (a radiant Jo Kennedy) works as a barmaid in her Mum’s pub and dreams of becoming a pop star. Her younger cousin, Angus (Ross O’Donovan), is an aspiring songwriter and band manager. Together they set out to win a talent contest and save the Harbour View Hotel from repossession.

The cheerful optimism of the storyline is supported by a production that resembles a 1980s glam-rock music video, and features numerous wonderful cameos (including a very early appearance by MIFF Patron Geoffrey Rush). Choreography by David Atkins and set design by Brian Thomsen, both fresh from the set of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, along with outlandish costume design by Luciana Arrighi and Terry Ryan and songs by Phil Judd and Tim Finn of Split Enz are all brought to vibrant life by the recent digital restoration by the National Film and Sound Archives.

'Starstruck is silly through and through, but it's also full of happy, musical surprises.' – New York Times

Presented by the National Film and Sound Archive's digital restoration program: NFSA Restores – reviving our cinema icons.

Director Gillian Armstrong will attend the session to introduce the film and take part in a post-screening Q&A.