Anyone who has been to the quaint NSW town of Nimbin will know that the hippie ethic is strong there. What most will not know however is that there was one pivotal event that created the circumstances for that sleepy town to slide into the alternative mindset, the Aquarius Festival. It was held over fifty years ago in 1973.
The festival was created with the help of the National Union of Australian University Students and Nimbin was their third edition after events in Sydney and Melbourne. It was, however, the first event under the Aquarius moniker. Its stated intent was to celebrate alternative thinking and sustainable lifestyles and lasted for ten days. It is credited for starting Australia’s hippie movement.
This doco tells the story through archival footage and interviews with event organisers, performers, townspeople and participants. It also features several animated cartoon graphics to help fill in the details. It was such an outlier event for its time, it garnered a lot of television coverage so the filmmakers were able to ferret out some great footage. The contrast between audience members and members of the media and local authorities is hilariously stark.
With the current harsh divide between people who have a political agenda and those who just want the world to be a better place, an event like this would be nearly impossible to pull off. Some of it seems very naive but there were actual endeavours that came out of this mindset back then that did improve things. A dedicated group actually had success in stopping the deforestation of a local rainforest for example. If it were to happen today, Live Nation would have to figure out a way to properly monetise it.
Rob Hudson
The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is a celebration of cinema as art, entertainment and industry, for everyone seeking bold and unforgettable experiences.
An annual event, held over 11 days from Thursday 24th October to Sunday 3rd November 2024 and spread across several wonderful locations in Brisbane.
This years festival will showcase over 40 feature films and 40 short films from home and abroad, filmmaker Q&As, industry and student events.
www.biff.com.au/
