Australia

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Australia

film by Luhrmann [2008]

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July 18, 2026

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The film Australia (2008) was directed by Baz Luhrmann, an Australian filmmaker known for his lavish and stylized productions. Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, the film sparked national debate regarding its historical accuracy, though Luhrmann did not intend it as a documentary.1

Luhrmann's career includes other notable films such as Moulin Rouge! (2001) and The Great Gatsby (2013). He is recognized for his unique style, often described as heightened reality, and his emphasis on dance, theatre, and music. The Australian film industry experienced a significant creative surge in the late 20th century, with directors like Luhrmann contributing to its global recognition.12

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Baz Luhrmann
…filmic effort was the multithemed Australia (2008), starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman; it unleashed a fierce national debate over its historical accuracy, though its director had not intended a documentary. Luhrmann’s following project was a series of eight short videos—featuring Judy Davis as fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who died…
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…filmic effort was the multithemed Australia (2008), starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman; it unleashed a fierce national debate over its historical accuracy, though its director had not intended a documentary. Luhrmann’s following project was a series of eight short videos—featuring Judy Davis as fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who died…
Read More

Richard Flanagan
Journalism and film projects
…the screenplay for the epic Australia (2008) and its spin-off miniseries Faraway Downs (2023), directed by Baz Luhrmann.
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…the screenplay for the epic Australia (2008) and its spin-off miniseries Faraway Downs (2023), directed by Baz Luhrmann.
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Hugh Jackman
Hollywood and Broadway stardom
…Baz Luhrmann’s lush historical epic Australia. While the film itself met with mixed reviews, Jackman’s performance was widely praised. As host of the Academy Awards ceremony in 2009, he showcased his skills as a premier song-and-dance man. Later that year he reprised his role as Wolverine in the prequel X-Men…
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…Baz Luhrmann’s lush historical epic Australia. While the film itself met with mixed reviews, Jackman’s performance was widely praised. As host of the Academy Awards ceremony in 2009, he showcased his skills as a premier song-and-dance man. Later that year he reprised his role as Wolverine in the prequel X-Men…
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Nicole Kidman
Moulin Rouge!, The Hours, and other movies from the 2000s
…Luhrmann for the romantic drama Australia (2008), playing a prim Englishwoman who arrives in Australia just after World War II to defend land she has inherited. In 2009 she appeared in Nine; the musical featured an all-star cast that included Daniel Day-Lewis, Penélope Cruz, and Marion Cotillard.
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…Luhrmann for the romantic drama Australia (2008), playing a prim Englishwoman who arrives in Australia just after World War II to defend land she has inherited. In 2009 she appeared in Nine; the musical featured an all-star cast that included Daniel Day-Lewis, Penélope Cruz, and Marion Cotillard.
Read More