Radiance

Project Type: Past Project

Delivery Date: 1997

Radiance is an unique drama telling the story of three young women who return home, somewhere along the Queensland coast, for their mother’s funeral.  Then begins a long sweaty day during which the skeletons in the family closet emerge allowing the three characters grieve, reconcile and celebrate.

There’s Cressy, the diva, reluctant to revisit her past and share it with her sisters and Mae, the martyr, who believes that Cressy hasn’t shared enough.  And there's also Nona, the party girl who just wants them to be one big, happy family.

Radiance is a very distinctly and profoundly Australia film, but with universal themes.  It was also the first commercially orientated film to be directed by an Indigenous woman and to feature three Indigenous actors in the lead roles.

Director: Rachael Perkins

Producer: Andrew Myer and Ned Lander

Writer: Louis Nowra S

Starring: Deborah Mailman, Rachael Maza, Trisha Morton-Thomas

Awards

Best Debut Feature (Australian Critics Circle Best Film ), Best Full Length Film (Melbourne, Canberra & Sydney Film Festivals), Best Full Length Film (Festival Internazionale Cinema Delle Donne), Audience Jury Prize (Creteil Film Des Femmes Festival Best Film), Best Actress - Deborah Mailman (Turin Film Festival Italy),Best Actress Deborah Mailman (AFI Australia Awards),  Best Actress - Deborah Mailman (FCCA Awards Australia), Best Adapted Screenplay - (FCCA Awards Australia), Best Sound Design & FX Editing (ASSG Award Australia), Jury Award - Honorable mention (Hollywood Black Film Festival). Best Direction - Rachael Perkins (Tudawali Film & Video Awards)