Ground Zero (1987 film)

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Ground Zero
Directed by	Bruce Myles Michael Pattinson
Written by	Mac Gudgeon Jan Sardi
Starring	Colin Friels Jack Thompson Donald Pleasence
Release date(s)	Australia October 1, 1987
Running time	109 min.
Country	Australia
Language	English
IMDb profile

Ground Zero is an Australian drama / thriller about a cinematographer who, prompted by curiosity about some old film footage taken by his father, embarks on a quest to find out the truth about British nuclear tests at Maralinga. It stars actors Colin Friels, Jack Thompson and Indigenous activist Burnum Burnum.

1 Context of the film
2 Cast
3 Awards and Nominations
4 External links

[edit] Context of the film

In the 1950s, the British government had conducted a number of nuclear tests at a site called Maralinga in outback South Australia. It was subsequently alleged that during those tests, armed forces personnel and Indigenous Australians may have been exposed to nuclear fallout that may have affected their health. This led eventually to a major inquiry, the McClelland Royal Commission, which reported in 1985. The inquiry attracted a lot of publicity, and ultimately a deal with the United Kingdom to fund rehabilitation of the test sites.

Ground Zero was made immediately following this inquiry. While fictional, it explores the idea that the exposure to radiation of Indigenous people and army personnel may have been deliberate, or known about at the time and concealed. The political topicality of the film at the time of its release was reflected in the profile of some of the actors involved: Colin Friels has played a number of roles involving social activism, most notably in the Australian television miniseries Bastard Boys; Burnum Burnum was a long-time Indigenous rights activist; while Jack Thompson had previously played a leading role in another film sharply critical of the British military: Breaker Morant.

[edit] Cast

Actor	Character
Colin Friels	Harvey Denton
Jack Thompson	Trebilcock
Donald Pleasence	Prosper Gaffney
Natalie Bate	Pat Denton
Burnham Burnham	Charlie
Simon Chilvers	Commission president
Neil Fitzpatrick	Hooking
Bob Maza	Walemari
Beverley Dunn	Commissioner #1
Alan Hopgood	Commissioner #2
Peter Cummins	Ballantyne, Australian veteran
Brian James	Vice-Adm. Windsor
Bob Hornery	Meteorologist
Steve Dodd	Freddy Tjapalijarri
Alfred Austen	Aboriginal elder