Films in the flower beds
The Red Carpet
Enter Floriade as if you were attending an exclusive movie premiere, with a walk down the Red Carpet, an avenue of crimson blooms. Get swept up in the fanfare as the red carpet takes you into the centre of a giant film reel garden bed, with a spectacular view out over the park’s main vista. As you continue down the path you will see purple and white edging on the garden beds to represent the perforated edges of film strips. Enclosed within these film strips on either side of the path are garden beds representing some of the many films that shaped a nation!
Theatre Treats
Two fun-filled garden beds represent those quintessential movie snacks - popcorn and Jaffas. See yellow flowers built up to represent a mouth-watering pile of buttered popcorn, topped with a giant popcorn box. You’ll be sniffing the air for that delicious aroma of popping corn, only to breathe in the scent of over a million blooms drifting on the breeze. Nearby, you’ll see a collection of floral Jaffas, 'rolling down the aisles'. Reminisce on the good old days when a visit to the cinema was not complete without the sounds of Jaffas bouncing noisily down the timber aisles.
Crocodile Dundee
Feel the danger as the crocodile lurking in this garden bed stalks an aluminium tinnie floating on a river of flowers. The film that inspired this display, Crocodile Dundee, shot to international fame, making it a household name and heavily influencing the world’s impressions of Australia. The film tells the story of a glamorous New York reporter who travels to the wilds of the Northern Territory to interview Mick Dundee, the survivor of a recent crocodile attack. Their adventures in the outback, ensuing love affair and Mick’s subsequent visit to New York make for thrilling and often hilarious viewing.
Film details
Written by: Paul Hogan (Aust.), John Cornell (Aust.) and Ken Shadie (Aust)
Directed by: Peter Faiman (Aust.)
Released: 1986
Babe
See a comical face-off between pig and sheep in this delightful garden bed, honoring Babe’s place in the history of Australian film. Babe endeared Australian audiences with its funny and touching story about a pig trying to find his place in the world. Feeling alone and scared after arriving at his new home, Babe the pig is adopted by the farm’s family of sheep-dogs. As he grows and the reality of the chopping block looms, he decides to make himself useful and become a sheep-herding pig!
Film details
Written by: George Miller (Aust.) & Chris Noonan (Aust.)
Directed by: Chris Noonan (Aust.)
Released: 1995
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
In this fitting homage to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, flowers bloom extravagantly in a display of the Priscilla bus, complete with a drag queen perched on the roof and a billowing silver cape trailing behind. This film delighted Australians with its humorous depiction of the sharp contrast between the rough Australian outback and the glitz and glamour of Sydney’s drag queen scene.
Film details
Written by: Stephan Elliott (Aust.)
Directed by: Stephan Elliott (Aust.)
Released: 1994
Young Einstein
Young Einstein’s wild red hair and his mayhem-inducing electric guitar are on show in this garden bed, representing the film Young Einstein. This off-the-wall comedy combines the story of Albert Einstein with the science of beer bubbles, a Tasmanian apple farmer and rock and roll music with hilarious results.
Film details
Written by: Yahoo Serious (Aust) screenplay Yahoo Serious & David Roach (Aust.)
Directed by: Yahoo Serious (Aust.)
Released: 1988
Count Down
Reminiscent of the countdown a projectionist sees on a roll of film, the flowers show the numbers 3, 2, 1 trailing down the bed. This garden bed is a reflection on changing technology in the film industry and the likelihood that the projectionist’s countdown will soon become a thing of the past.
Muriel’s Wedding
You’ll imagine wedding bells are ringing when you see this special garden bed, displaying a wedding dress of cascading white flowers, standing on a carpet of red blossoms. It’s inspiration, the film Muriel’s Wedding, is a great example of the quirky Australian sense of humour, so often celebrated in Australian film.
Film details
Written by: P.J. Hogan (Aust.)
Directed by: P.J. Hogan (Aust.)
Released: 1994
Phar Lap
In recognition of the film, Phar Lap, this colourful garden bed shows the movement and colour of the finish line at a big horse race, as horses and jockeys jostle for position. The film tells the true and uniquely Australian story of a famous Australian racehorse named Phar Lap. The film is set during the depression when this winning horse was nationally recognised as a symbol of hope and equality.
Film details
Written by: David Williamson (Aust.)
Directed by: Simon Wincer (Aust.)
Released: 1983
The Story of the Kelly Gang
Ned Kelly’s famous helmet towers over the word “REWARD” in this garden bed, set against a background of blood red flowers. This garden bed acknowledges the importance of the film The Story of the Kelly Gang, arguably the world’s first feature film, released in Australia in 1906. The film tells the story of the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly and his family.
Film details
Written by: Charles Tait (Aust.)
Directed by: Charles Tait (Aust.)
Released: 1906
The Dish
The design of a satellite dish emerges from the flowers in this tribute to the Australian film The Dish. This comedy is based on the true story of Australia’s involvement in transmitting the first television images of the first man on the moon. The collection of quirky characters and the backdrop of the dry Australian landscape give this film a uniquely Australian feel.
Film details
Written by: Santo Cilauro (Aust.), Tom Gleisner (Aust.) Jane Kennedy (Aust.) and Rob Sitch (Aust.)
Directed by: Rob Sitch (Aust.), 2000
Happy Feet
Get your feet tapping in front of this delightful garden bed of a tap dancing penguin in the middle of Antactica. This garden bed represents the animated film Happy Feet, a lovable and funny film about a penguin who discovers that being different doesn’t have to make him an outsider. A favourite with adults and children alike.
Film details
Written by: John Collee (Aust.) & Warren Coleman
Directed by: George Miller (Aust.), John Collee (Aust.), Judy Morris and Warren Coleman
Released: 2006
Behind the Scenes
Sneak behind the scenes at these three garden beds, representing the artists behind the magic we see on the big screen. See a giant tape measure twisting through a vibrant multi-coloured flower bed to represent costume and set designers. Nearby, Floriade pays tribute to film’s musical composers with a flourish of musical notes designed into the flowers. Our talented Australian writers are not forgotten with a dedicated flower bed complete with letters, feathered quill and scriptwriting in the flowers.
Storm Boy
Pelicans are a common sight around Australia’s coastline and waterways but it’s not often you see one created out of flowers. This particular pelican represents one of the central characters in the Australian film Storm Boy, Mr Percival. Based on a classic book, often studied in Australian schools, Storm Boy the film was an Australian blockbuster. Exploring the themes of indigenous and white relations, environmental issues and family, Storm Boy has become a classic in its own right.
Film details
Written by: Sonia Borg (Aust.) and Sidney Stebel (Aust.), based on the novel by Colin Thiele (Aust.)
Directed by: Henri Safran
Released: 1977
Puberty Blues
See the quintessential aussie surfboard, with rolling waves and a rising sun at this colourful garden bed, representing the classic Australian film Puberty Blues. Puberty Blues explores Australian teenage beach culture in the late 1970s. It follows the stories of two Australian teenage girls, who live their lives according to the strange code of behaviour required of a 'surf chick'. Honest and often confronting, this film resonated with many Australians.
Film details
Written by: Gabrielle Carey (Aust.) and Margaret Kelly (Aust.), based on the novel by Gabrielle Carey (Aust.) and Kathy Lette (Aust.)
Directed by: Bruce Beresford (Aust.)
Released: 1981
Shine
See a giant floral keyboard dedicated to the Australian film Shine. Shine is based on the true story of Australian pianist David Helfgott. A story of triumph through adversity, Shine shows that despite suffering a breakdown when on the brink of an amazing musical career, Helfgott eventually returns to the concert hall to popular acclaim.
Film details
Written by: Jan Sardi (Aust.)
Directed by: Scott Hicks (Aust.)
Released: 1996
Rabbit Proof Fence
This striking garden bed shows the Aboriginal flag, bordered by a rabbit proof fence, in honour of the film, Rabbit Proof Fence. This topical and important Australian film tells the true story of an Aboriginal girl and her two sisters who are removed from their family in 1931 to be trained as domestic help for white families. The girls escape and travel 1500 miles on foot, using the rabbit proof fence to guide them home.
Film details
Written by: Christine Olsen (Aust.), based on the true story of her mother written by Doris Pilkington (Aust.)
Directed by: Philip Noyce (Aust.)
Released: 2002
Gallipoli
Flanking the Diggers Rest Cafe, this garden bed reflects an image of the badge worn by Australian soldiers, the Rising Sun Badge. Sand bags representing the trenches mark the entry to the garden bed and a lone pine stands in the middle of the bed as a symbol of the battle fought at Anzac Cove. This detailed garden bed pays tribute to the classic Australian film about a nation at war for the first time, Gallipoli.
Film details
Written by: David Williamson (Aust.) and Peter Weir (Aust.)
Directed by: Peter Weir (Aust.)
Released: 1981
Moulin Rouge
Be wowed by a cabaret dancer kicking up her knees, resplendent in a lavish costume and towering headpiece at the Moulin Rouge garden bed. Moulin Rouge the film is a tragic love story set in France in 1899 that demonstrates the creative success of Australians in the international film industry. The film was written, directed and starred in by Australians.
Film details
Written by: Baz Luhrmann (Aust.) and Craig Pearce (Aust.)
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann (Aust.)
Released: 2001
Strictly Ballroom
Dance your way past the Strictly Ballroom garden bed, featuring two ballroom dancers entwined on the dance floor. This garden bed recognises the film Strictly Ballroom, which captivated Australian audiences with its tale of an accomplished ballroom dancer, striking out with an amateur. The lead characters’ controversial new dance steps eliminate them from competition but still make the audience erupt into thunderous applause. Australia’s tendency to love an underdog makes this a favourite aussie film.
Film details
Written by: Baz Luhrmann (Aust.), Craig Pearce (Aust.) and Andrew Bovell (Aust.)
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann (Aust.)
Released: 1992
Premiere Night
Get excited by the swinging floodlights streaking through the night sky, set against a skyline of lit windows and neon lights in the Premiere Night garden bed. Imagine the anticipation, glitz and glamour of premiere night as you stroll past this colourful display.
Kenny
Let your imagination take hold at this garden bed, designed in various shades of blues and yellows in recognition of the Australian film about portaloos, Kenny. Kenny is a comedy shot in documentary style about a man working in the portaloo hire industry. Classic toilet humour and lots of aussie colloquialisms make this film a laugh-a-minute, while also exploring the more serious themes of the class divide and the intricacies of human relationships.
Film details
Written by: Clayton Jacobson (Aust.) and Shane Jacobson (Aust.)
Directed by: Clayton Jacobson (Aust.) and Shane Jacobson (Aust.)
Released: 2006
