Leah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson and Gracie Otto’s documentary Under the Volcano will lead the Australian contingent at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival. Purcell’s feature adaption of her award-winning stageplay will have its world premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section:
IF Magazine writes:
Based on the Henry Lawson short story, The Drover’s Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson follows a woman and her stubborn determination to protect her family from the harshness of life in 1893, Snowy Mountains.
Purcell directed and stars in the film, having written the screenplay from her play of the same name. She is joined in the cast by Rob Collins, Sam Reid, Jessica de Gouw, Malachi Dower-Roberts, Tony Cogin, and Harry Greenwood.
The film is produced by Bain Stewart for Oombarra Productions and David Jowsey, Angela Littlejohn, and Greer Simpkin for Bunya Productions.
Roadshow Films will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand, while Memento Films International is handling international sales.
Purcell is “humbled” to follow in the footsteps of the films and filmmakers who have come through the festival.
“As an Indigenous Australian woman and filmmaker, I am proud to be sharing a story that literally has mine and my family’s DNA all over it and to be able to share our cultural practise as storytellers through film to the world,” she says.
“I wish I could be at SXSW for the film’s premiere but I’ll be with you in spirit.”
