While conducting research on events at gallipoli, archaeologist, writer and university of melbourne arts alumnus, andrew anastasios, discovered a line in a letter from. An australian man travels to turkey after the battle of gallipoli to try and locate his three missing sons. While conducting research on events at gallipoli, archaeologist, writer and university of melbourne arts alumnus, andrew anastasios. Russell crowe directed and stars in the water diviner, which is ostensibly a labor of love for him, inspired by a true story. Even as a war film, the fast majority of the movie is comprised of quiet contemplative dialogue moments.
Love was my alibi by kris fogelmark original song with. Russell crowe proves he has filmmaking skills with his directorial debut the water diviner, but a much more profound film about australias tragic role in 1915s battle of gallipoli was made in. Crowe stars in the film as australian farmer joshua connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the turks in the. Russell crowes the water diviner faces deluge of protest. A single line in an archived letter sparked faculty of arts alumnus andrew anastasioss fascination with the story that would ultimately become the movie the water diviner. In the dry australian outback, he needs to be able to find water and he can. In 1919, australian farmer joshua connor travels to turkey to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. The water diviner directed by russell crowe starring russell crowe, olga kurylenko, yilmaz erdogan, cem yilmaz, jai courtney, ryan corr and jacqueline mckenz. Russell crowe plays australian farmer joshua connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the turks in the bloody battle of gallipoli. Set in 1919 the water diviner tells the story of an australian father of three young men all of whom have enlisted with the anzacs in the gallipoli campaign in world war 1.
The water diviner is a 2014 drama film directed by and starring russell crowe, in his directorial debut, and written by andrew anastasios and andrew knight. Russell crowes the water diviner opens in us cinemas on friday, but the film has already made a splash there. The water diviner is vivid, flawed, tenacious and, at times, ridiculous. Apr 24, 2015 for the water diviner, his muddled directorial debut about love in the time of war and dissemblance, russell crowe wanted to go full david lean while nodding at peter weirs gallipoli. The water diviner, which tells the story of a father who travels to gallipoli after the war to properly bury his three sons, includes a number of graphic battlefield flashbacks. Inspired by a fragment of a true story, the film casts crowe as joshua connor, an apparently successful farmer and water diviner in the.
The water diviner was released in 2015 on friday, april 24, 2015 in nationwide movie theaters. Dont get too hooked on the title as a hinge point for the action. At his wife elizas mckenzie urging, joshua crowe travels from. The water diviner finds russell crowe on somewhat uncertain footing as a director, but hes rescued by a strong performance from himself in the leading role. Russell crowes the water diviner opens in us cinemas on friday, but the film has already made a splash there, with the makers of a rival film, many critics and an orchestrated letterwriting campaign condemning it for what greekaustralian academic panayiotis diamadis has called its genocide denial by omission. Apr 24, 2015 that would be less troubling if the water diviner had come out five or 10 years ago, and at some other time of year. Crowe stars in the film as australian farmer joshua connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last. With seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his path, connor must travel across the battlescarred turkish landscape to find the truth and his own peace. However, from that starting point, crowes film takes some obvious dramatic license in.
Four years earlier, his three boys died missing in action on the battlefield of gallipoli, which was a defeat for british troops and a victory for turkeys muslim troops. With that said, the water diviner is a promising debut and a nice tribute to the anzac troops who fought and died a century ago. The parallels between private oconnor and the films subject are striking, serving to. The water diviner is a historical drama that follows an australian farmer crowe who travels to turkey to find his three missing sons. The water diviner cast and crew cast photos and info. The imax release of the water diviner will be digitally remastered into the image and sound quality of the imax experience with proprietary imax dmr digital remastering technology. Holding on to hope, joshua must travel across the wartorn landscape to find the truth and his own peace.
Apr 23, 2015 russell crowe proves he has filmmaking skills with his directorial debut the water diviner, but a much more profound film about australias tragic role in 1915s battle of gallipoli was made in. Matt pais says the water diviner is a twohour incompetence festival. One cant help but feel the impact of the devine as well as the role of the diviner in this movie. Russell crowe s movie the water diviner tells the story of an australian farmer who travels to turkey in 1919 to recover the bodies of his three sons, who died in 1915 on the infamous gallipoli battlefield in turkey during world war i. The water diviner film is russell crowes biggest gamble. Water diviner, the dvd in the aftermath of war, a father will search for peace. Their interactions are among the films more interesting, as hasans information leads. Movie the water diviner 2015, story, trailers times of india. It wants to be both a mournful and skeptical antiwar picture and a rousing adventure with splashes of buddy comedy, romance and borderline swashbuckling. Crowe out of his depth in the water diviner film colorado. Read what top critics are saying about the water diviner the hollywood reporter s megan lehmann says crowe taps a deep well of symbolism, cultural empathy and.
They were insistent, however, that if it was not going to be a true story, then it would. Apr 23, 2015 russell crowes the water diviner opens in us cinemas on friday, but the film has already made a splash there. Russell crowes directorial debut the water diviner, about a man trying to find three sons who disappeared at the battle of gallipoli in turkey 100 years ago, is a film divided against itself. The opening scenes prepare us for an examination of the residual impacts of war and its senselessness, but soon it turns into russell crowe the cowboy. Andrew lesnie made the fantastical into something we all shared. Parents need to know that the water diviner is a world war iera drama that doesnt shy away from the tragic cost of war, showing how soldiers and their families are affected physically, mentally, and emotionally that is, if theyre lucky enough to stay alive. In the film, set in 1919, russell plays an australian farmer joshua connor who goes in search of his three missing sons that were last known to have fought in the bloody battle of gallipoli. This is the reasonably promising premise laid out in the first 20 minutes of the film. The film claims to be inspired by true events, retraces the steps of the first pilgrim. Russell crowes directorial debut, the water diviner, is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of gallipoli during world war i.
The story behind the water diviner university of melbourne. Connor travels to istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful turkish woman, who owns the hotel in which he stays. Everything you need to know about the water diviner movie 2015. The water diviner 2015 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Though one of the main characters is a young boy, the film is better suited for teens and older, given the intense subject many. Fact, as the saying goes, is often stranger than fiction. The water diviner may be fablelike, painted with broad brush strokes and signposted emotions, but there is an emotional truth at its core that is both wholesome and compelling.
The water diviner is relatively entertaining but it falls short of what i was hoping for and i think this is because it neither allout delivers as a full on ravages of war redemption story or as an all out highspirited adventure. Watch the water diviner on yesmovies, the films is an adventure set four years after the devastating battle of gallipoli in turkey during world war i. The film is loosely based on the book of the same name written by andrew anastasios and dr meaghan wilsonanastasios. The movie the water diviner 2014 stars and was directed by russell crowe. Inspired by a true story in the sense that some soldiers were missing after.
The latest celebrity to strut the boards as a regius professor of modern history is none other than russell crowe, who we will shortly see starring in the water diviner, a movie about a man who. Faculty of arts alumnus andrew anastasios bahons, ma cowrote the original screenplay for the water diviner, an historical drama directed by russell. When the great war ends, joshua connor, a grieving farmer and sometime water diviner from the mallee in victoria, sets out to fulfil his wifes dying wish to travel to gallipoli to recover the bodies of his three sons and bury them in consecrated ground. Thankfully the majority of the dialogue keeps to the center channels and is never difficult to hear even during more bombastic thundering scenes. Why have so many people been hurt and offended by this movie. Everything in the movie is based on true events, but there. Inspired by true events, academy award winner russell crowe makes his directorial debut with this epic and inspiring tale of one mans lifechanging journey of discovery. The water diviners story was inspired by a single line in a letter from a colonel in the imperial war graves unit, who noted how an australian man came to gallipoli, searching for his sons graves. After the battle of gallipoli, in 1915, an australian farmer, connor russell crowe, travels to turkey to find his 3 missing sons. The water diviner wins big with this strong and robust english dtshd ma 5. However, from that starting point, crowes film takes some obvious dramatic license in telling this true story. While staying at a hotel in istanbul, he meets ayshe olga kurylenko, the hotel manager. Starring russell crowe gladiator, a beautiful mind and olga kurylenko oblivion, quantum of solace, the water diviner is an epic adventure set four years after the devastating battle of gallipoli in turkey during world war i. Nov 25, 2014 the latest celebrity to strut the boards as a regius professor of modern history is none other than russell crowe, who we will shortly see starring in the water diviner, a movie about a man who.
As they grow up, they want to fight in battle of gallipoli. Subsequent to the battle in which the allied forces were defeated all three have failed to return home and are now presumed dead. There were 10 other movies released on the same date, including the age of adaline, little boy and adult beginners. Water diviners, dowsers, may have special sensitivity to. Russell crowes directorial debut, an epic australian historical action drama the water diviner, is released in cinemas on boxing day. Australian farmer joshua connor russell crowe travels to turkey in 1919 to discover the fate of his three sons, reported missing in action. See what the critics had to say and watch the trailer. The water diviner is a 2014 drama film directed by and starring russell crowe, in his. Academy award winner russell crowe gladiator makes his directorial debut on the water diviner, an epic and inspiring tale of one mans lifechanging journey of discovery. In 1919, australian farmer joshua connor russell crowe goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the turks in the bloody bat. The latest celebrity to strut the boards as a regius professor of modern history is none other than russell crowe, who we will shortly see starring in the water diviner, a.
Everything you need to know about the water diviner movie. The title character is taciturn australian farmer and water diviner someone who. Russell crowes directorial debut, the water diviner, is an epic and inspiring tale of one mans lifechanging journey of discovery. The opening announces it was inspired by true events. Anastasios came across an old quote from the real lt. Australian farmer connor russell crowe travels to istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship. Dec 08, 2014 the water diviner may be fablelike, painted with broad brush strokes and signposted emotions, but there is an emotional truth at its core that is both wholesome and compelling. The water diviner, starring and directed by russell crowe, tells the story of joshua connor, an australian rancher in 1919. It does not help that the secondary cast consists of kurylenko, isabel lucas and the vastly unlikable jai courtney theyre all more models than actors and placing them in a heavily emotional film, requiring.
The film travels battlescarred turkey in a search for the truth and inner peace. The water diviner 2015 primary poster the water diviner plot. Crowe plays australian farmer joshua connor, who, in 1919, goes in search of his three missing sons, last known to have fought against the. The water diviner is as enjoyable as it sounds chicago tribune. Its largely symbolic and the true story hidden in the earth is not water but rather how impossibly diverse elements of human nature can come, meet and face their devils together. Leaving aside aesthetic considerations, the fact is the films lack of any historical context is breathtaking. Russell crowe spoils arresting cinematography and an effecting story of a fathers grief in gallipoli with a ludicrous. The movie, the water diviner, is now available on dvd. The water diviner is about an australian farmer named connor who travels to.