50 years ago, a 20-something Peter Weir decided to hypnotise us away from the possibility of solutions when he adapted Joan Lindsay's novel into the Australian gothic horror classic, Picnic at Hanging Rock.
On Valentine's day in 1900, the students from Miss Appleyard's depart their fortress-like school in rural Victoria for a lazy afternoon at the base of Hanging Rock. The hot wind blows in, the clocks stop, the girls peel off their stockings and, as the ants descend on the remains of the picnic, four girls ascend the rock, along with one of their teachers. Only one of them returns. As people hear of the mysterious disappearances, search parties break out, but only one girl is recovered, missing her corset and her memory of what happened at Hanging Rock. As are we all. Because if you need an ending you're a bit weak in the head.
See Also