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Snowtown

Director: Kurzel, Justin
Year: 2011
Type: Film
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Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Jamie lives with his mother and two younger brothers in a housing trust home in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. Their home is but one of many sun-starved houses crammed together to cater for a disenfranchised society. Jamie longs for an escape from the violence and hopelessness that surrounds him and his salvation arrives in the form of John, a charismatic man who unexpectedly comes to his aid. As John spends more and more time with Jamie’s family, they begin to experience a stability and sense of family that they have never known. John moves from the role of Jamie’s protector to that of a mentor, indoctrinating Jamie into his world, a world brimming with bigotry, righteousness and malice. Like a son mimicking his father, Jamie soon begins to take on some of John’s traits and beliefs.

The protection and guidance that John presents to Jamie is initially welcomed, however as events occur around him, including the disappearance of several people, Jamie begins to harbour deep suspicions about John and his motivations. When the truth is finally revealed to Jamie his hopes of happiness are threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, his father-figure John Bunting, Australia’s most notorious serial killer. 

www.snowtownthemovie.com/

Narrative Locations

Salisbury North, Adelaide, South Australia  

Temporal setting: 1992-1999

Location notes:

Snowtown’s suburban scenes are set in the suburb of Salisbury North, with street scenes filmed at Chapman Rd, Smithfield Plains, Blakeview.

John Bunting’s house was 203 Waterloo Corner Rd, and Barry Lane lived at 1 Bingham Rd on the corner of Waterloo Corner Rd. The house that Bunting rented has been demolished and is now a retirement village that takes up most of the block.

Shooting Locations

Chapman Rd, Smithfield Plains, Adelaide, South Australia

The shooting location of the house where Jamie lived with his mother and brothers was around 9 Chapman Rd. The residence has been demolished, but the exterior of the home of the man who took indecent photographs of Jamie and his brother still stands at 10-20 Chapman Rd. In the film Bunting dismembers kangaroos and puts them in the man's front yard to drive him out of the neighbourhood.

Shopping Centre , Adelaide, South Australia

The Peachy Rd shops feature incidentally in the film.

Gallery


Snowtown bank vault, Adelaide, South Australia  

Temporal setting: 1992-1999

Location notes:

Snowtown is a small rural town on Adelaide's northernmost fringes. It is known as the home of the "Big Blade," which refers to the blade of a massive wind turbine that is on display opposite the Snowtown Hotel and the bank vault. To get to Snowtown from Adelaide, follow Port Wakefield Rd/Princes Highway/National Highway A1, which turns into the Augusta Hwy, then turn right onto Shadwells Gap Rd at the sign to Snowtown, then turn onto Railway Tce East, which takes you through the middle of town. The bank vault is across the street from the Snowtown Hotel, on the corner of High Street East.The Hotel, apparently without irony, has large barrels out the front, strategically located for locals to perch on a bar stool, have a cold beer, and enjoy the view of the vault.

Shooting Locations

Snowtown bank vault, Adelaide, South Australia

The last murder took place in the Snowtown bank vault after the bodies in barrels had recently been moved there for storage. The filmmakers shot on location. The curio shop next door to the vault sells miniature bodies in barrels and fridge magnets emblazoned with slogans such as "I've been to Snowtown and survived."

Snowtown railway crossing , , Other

As Jamie enters Snowtown on the night of the final murder, the car pulls up to wait for a train to pass by.

Gallery




Content


Synopsis
Narrative Locations
Map

Related Texts


Snowtown: The Bodies in Barrels Murders (Pudney, Jeremy, 2005)

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