Tomorrow When The War Began

Tomorrow When The War Began is a big deal for Australian film.

It's a fully homegrown story, based on John Marsden's series of books, which many young Australians hold sacred. The series was by far the highlight of the high-school reading curriculum during the mid-nineties, but more than that, it was a dangerous adventure with a heavy smack of realism in which young Australian readers could easily identify themselves and their towns. This story isn't unfolding in Oaklahama, or Califrancisco, it's happening in Wirrawee. 

In short, there are a lot of passionate fans - it's one of those books that people take ownership of and remember with joy. Until the movie comes out and ruins all your head-pictures. Nah, that won't happen this time. Will it?

This movie needs to deliver. It's hard to think of a more ready-made opportunity for engaging an Australian audience in an Australian film. We love the story and we will go and see the movie. Local audience's apparent disinterest in Australian film will be set aside momentarily - and if they are offended by first-time director Stuart Beattie's interpretation of one of their favourite books, that disinterest may well turn to disdain. But according to the Tongue, Marsden turned down a number of other offers from companies keen to make this film, so we'll have to trust his judgement.

We really, really hope that it's brilliant. The anticipation out there is pretty remarkable for an Australian film.

The official Tomorrow When The War Began website was launched today - check it out here.

And also squiz the Wirrawee website - I think they would get more mileage from this clever little idea if the main TWTWB site didn't link directly to it, but that's just me.