After the battle of gallipoli, in 1915, an australian farmer, connor russell crowe, travels to turkey to find his 3 missing sons. The water diviner is a 2014 drama film directed by and starring russell crowe, in his. The water diviner story the film opens in 1919, after the end of world war i. Rarely does a movie pull you in so quickly and so deeply as the water diviner. The latest celebrity to strut the boards as a regius professor of modern history is none other than russell crowe, who we will shortly see starring in the water diviner, a movie. Everything in the movie is based on true events, but there is a fictitious love story about grief that runs throughout. Read what top critics are saying about the water diviner the hollywood reporter s megan lehmann says crowe taps a deep well of symbolism, cultural empathy and.
The film follows the story of miraculous farmer he knows where to find water underneath the arid earth joshua connor crowe, whose three sons were sent to the war in turkey. Crowes a great actor, dont get me wrong but this film is average at best. Apr 23, 2015 at least that describes his first film behind the camera. The water diviner is inspired by true events and based literally on a line about a father such as joshua from an account of the gallipoli campaign. What a shame that now the australian academy has finally started to acknowledge the terrific genre movies their nation produces, and yet it has to share the award with a colossal bore like this one. His film will be watched, and treated, as if it were actual history. Russell crowe spoils arresting cinematography and an effecting story of a fathers grief in gallipoli with a ludicrous. The response novel the water diviner, which was written after the screenplay, has been hugely rewarding for meaghan and andrew. The water diviners story was inspired by a single line in a letter from a colonel in the imperial war graves unit, who noted how an australian man came to gallipoli, searching for his sons graves. The opening announces it was inspired by true events. His wife mourns over their presumed death, and succumbs to fatal depression. Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its. Russell crowe speaks to the advertiser on the burra set of.
The water diviner soundtrack list movie 2015 tracklist ost list listen to original score and full songs, theme music, film score list, the playlist of all of the songs played in the movie, who sings them, including end credits. And yet, in straining for the profound, the film ultimately loses its way in a veritable nomans land of ill. Anastasios came across an old quote from the real lt. They were insistent, however, that if it was not going to be a true story, then it would at least be based. Cowriter andrew anastasios based the story on research showing. The only true part of the story is that there really was a lone australian father who went to gallipoli in search of his missing offspring.
The water diviner s story was inspired by a single line in a letter from a colonel in the imperial war graves unit, who notedhow an australian man came to gallipoli, searching for his sons graves. I have dug a lot of wells that turned out to be holes, reflects the titular hero of the water diviner, an aussie rancher named joshua connor played by. It is the story of a father who, after world war one, goes in search of his sons who fought at gallipoli and presumably died there. What proves more substantial is the films true subtext about the aftermath of the wwi itself. The real meat of the water diviner is when joshua attempts to find his sons bodies.
Feb 14, 2015 the water diviner recently won three australian academy of cinema and television arts awards, including best picture. Knight and andrew anastasios intended the story as homage to the. The story of joshua connor crowe, an australian farmer who travels to turkey to find and bring home the bodies of. Apr 23, 2015 russell crowe proves he has filmmaking skills with his directorial debut the water diviner, but a much more profound film about australias tragic role in 1915s battle of gallipoli was made in. The films title refers to connors mystical gift as a water diviner, being able to locate water and other treasures under the parched ground. After that it changes into a search for his three sons who have been lost at gallipoli, and to find whether or not they survived the intense battle. The film also won in the categories of best supporting actor erdogan. Though one of the main characters is a young boy, the film is better suited for. Starring russell crowe gladiator, a beautiful mind and olga kurylenko oblivion, quantum of solace, the water diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of gallipoli in turkey during world war i. The water diviner this book is heartbreakingly beautiful. The water diviner soundtrack list the water diviner movie.
The water diviner concerns the creation myth of modern australia. A bereaved father finds the remains of two of his sons on the site of the fight for lone pine a place where, the film tells us, mistakenly, 7000 men were killed. Its also odd that the film is titled the water diviner, as the titular characters habit of dowsing is both unscientific and irrelevant to the narrative. Water diviner is an impassioned historical epic of war and family. A lot of the film is confusing, really, if you dont understand the history. Of course, this phenomenon of the actorturnedrevisionist historian is nothing. There may be another reason, but the film doesnt care to explore.
However, from that starting point,crowes filmtakes some obvious dramatic license in telling this true story. While staying at a hotel in istanbul, he meets ayshe olga kurylenko, the hotel manager. Apr 19, 2015 in this sense, the water diviner strikes a more ambitious posture than peter weirs remarkable gallipoli, flooding the viewer with notions of commemoration and the stillunspooling consequences of the war to end all wars. Water diviner is an impassioned historical epic of. Parents need to know that the water diviner is a world war iera drama that doesnt shy away from the tragic cost of war, showing how soldiers and their families are affected physically, mentally, and emotionally that is, if theyre lucky enough to stay alive. Russell crowes the water diviner opens in us cinemas on friday, but the film has already made a splash there, with the makers of a rival film, many critics and an orchestrated letterwriting. The water diviner is a historical drama that follows an australian farmer crowe who travels to turkey to find his three missing sons. This is one from the heart for russell crowe, making an impressive. If you like the water diviner you might like similar movies a long story, winter sleep, the mountain ii, fetih 1453, copying beethoven. Their interactions are among the films more interesting, as hasans information leads.
I dont know why its called, the water diviner, as the only search for water is at the very start of the film. The claim that the water diviner is inspired by true events is a bit of a stretch, but it tells a good story that my wife and i easily got involved in. However, from that starting point, crowes film takes some obvious dramatic license in telling this true story. Everything in the movie is based on true events, but there. Apr 24, 2015 read what top critics are saying about the water diviner the hollywood reporter s megan lehmann says crowe taps a deep well of symbolism, cultural empathy and good oldfashioned storytelling.
Joshua hasnt seen his sons and seeks the truth about where they are and. World war i films based on actual events drama films based on actual events. The story behind the water diviner university of melbourne. Professor bruce scates is interviewed by rebecca wheatley on the real history behind the fictional drama film, the water diviner, where an australian farmer searches for his missing sons after. At the start of the horribly titled the water diviner, russell crowes joshua. Russell crowe directed and stars in the water diviner, which is ostensibly a labor of love for him, inspired by a true story. Crowe out of his depth in the water diviner film colorado. Four years after the battle of gallipoli and after losing his wife, joshua connor russell crowe leaves australia for turkey to look for his sons, soldiers in the battle. Inspired by a fragment of a true story, the film casts crowe as joshua connor. The water diviner is a 2014 drama film directed by and starring russell crowe, in his directorial debut, and written by andrew anastasios and andrew knight. The water diviner russell crowe plays a griefstricken australian father who sets out for turkey after world war i to find the three sons that have disappeared during the battle.
While the war story aims for epic turf, the love story settles for manipulation. Inspired by a fragment of a true story, the film casts crowe as. Russell crowes water diviner tries to question history, but misses. As is frequently the case, story authors andrew knight and andrew anastasios. The film opens with a suicide, which is confusingly presented. My criticisms of the water diviner as a filmed story revolve around its fundamental lack of credibility. Russell crowes the water diviner faces deluge of protest. To hear from people out there who have really enjoyed it and are engaged with it and thinking about it, just as i know how i feel when i see a film or read a book, that really moves me, says meaghan. I would argue that the water diviner is a light, somber epitaph to the generation of young men lost on.
At least that describes his first film behind the camera. The water diviner is inspired by true events, but only loosely. Various film critics described the movie as a distortion of history that only. The story concept originated from a single line in a letter written by lieutenantcolonel cyril hughes who was a worker in the imperial war graves unit. That he may also locate the bones of his sons adds. Check out movie behind the scenes, interviews, movie red carpet.
As such, first time director and the films star, russell crowe, has a lot of. Cowriter andrew anastasios based the story on research showing that an australian farmer turned up at the grim. The water diviner is about the aftermath of war, it follows the story of a guy called joshua connor who has three robust, loving sons and as. The film claims to be inspired by true events, retraces the steps of the first pilgrim. The water diviner finds russell crowe on somewhat uncertain footing as a director, but hes rescued by a strong performance from himself in the leading role. Historical films are thus barometers of the collective stories that patriotic filmmakers and audiences like to tell about the past. Joshua connor russell crowe is an australian farmer, and water diviner. Find out where the water diviner is streaming, if the water diviner is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The water diviner 2015 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Russell crowes the water diviner faces deluge of protest ahead of. The title character is taciturn australian farmer and water diviner someone who. Australian farmer connor russell crowe travels to istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship. Apr 24, 2015 the water diviner story the film opens in 1919, after the end of world war i.
The water diviner posted on april 22, 2015 by rogerinorlando the centuryold open wound of gallipoli, australias illfated entry into world war i, makes a vivid and grim backdrop for russell crowes the water diviner, a sensitive and sentimental story about a grieving father looking for the bodies of the three. Inspired by a fragment of a true story, the film casts crowe as joshua connor, an apparently successful farmer and water diviner in the. The story behind the water diviner by sarah gundlach a single line in an archived letter sparked faculty of arts alumnus andrew anastasioss fascination with the story that would ultimately become the movie the water diviner. The water diviner story, the water diviner hollywood movie. The water diviner where to stream and watch decider. It claims to be based on true events, and tells the story of one of the first.
To me, the turkish characters were the most interesting, as was the ability of at least some of the onetime enemies to develop a mutual understanding. Apr 23, 2015 story is filled with heart and wellexecuted. The film is presented as being inspired by actual events, but as a person whose family has been deeply affected by the genocide perpetrated by. The water diviner is a beautiful story engaging the viewer on many different levels. An australian man travels to turkey after the battle of gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons. Russell crowe proves he has filmmaking skills with his directorial debut the water diviner, but a much more profound film about australias tragic role in. The movie, the water diviner, is now available on dvd. Hasan is there to take account of the turkish dead, and decides to help joshua as he is the only father who came looking. The water diviner represents exactly the kind of prestige cinema that those filmmakers were rallying against more than four decades ago. Upon arriving in istanbul a young boy, orhan dylan georgiades, brings him to a hotel managed by his mother ayshe olga kurylenko. The film claims to be inspired by true events, retraces the steps of the first pilgrim across. The water diviner is an australian war movie drama notable for being the first film directed by russell crowe crowe stars as connor, an australian water diviner who travels to turkey three years after the battle of gallipoli to retrieve the bodies of his three sons who died there. Apr 03, 2015 russell crowes directorial debut the water diviner was the sensation of the recent australian academy of cinema and television arts, scooping up the gong for best film. Russell crowe proves he has filmmaking skills with his directorial debut the water diviner, but a much more profound film about australias tragic role in 1915s battle of gallipoli was made in.
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