"This is a brave and intimate memoir, as much about one woman's personal struggle against seemingly immovable obstacles as it is about an impressive film career . . . " Contents include: Acks., Letter from Ruth Park to Patricia Lovell, Prologue, 23 chapters, List of Notes.
Like many Australians who grew up during the 1960s I was, for a period of my childhood, captivated by a little program on ABC television called, "Mr. Squiggle". It was a charming and fanciful concept, and its reassuring presenter was a woman named Patricia Lovell. Few would have realised that our "Miss Pat", as she was known, was destined for an extraordinary career, and one that would help turn the attention of the world toward Australian cinema.
In 'No Picnic: An Autobiography' Lovell's narrati
Like many Australians who grew up during the 1960s I was, for a period of my childhood, captivated by a little program on ABC television called, "Mr. Squiggle". It was a charming and fanciful concept, and its reassuring presenter was a woman named Patricia Lovell. Few would have realised that our "Miss Pat", as she was known, was destined for an extraordinary career, and one that would help turn the attention of the world toward Australian cinema.
In 'No Picnic: An Autobiography' Lovell's narrative is frank and generous, affording the reader an intimate perspective of the experiences and forces that shaped her life and developed her skills as a producer. Exposed to tragedies in her early years, she prevailed both as a visionary of the Australian film industry and as a devoted mother. The love of her children is a tender thread that runs through her story as we read of her professional triumphs and disappointments.
Without Patricia Lovell, it remains unlikely that we would have witnessed the masterpiece 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' or other outstanding motion pictures, such as 'Gallipoli' and 'Monkey Grip', that helped, along with the concurrent work of other film-makers, to brand Australian cinematic talent into the thick hide of the international film industry. Such was her insight, passion and endurance, tempered by the realism of someone with both feet firmly on the ground.
Patricia Lovell died on the 26th January this year aged 83 and without doubt left a significant void in the lives of many who loved and admired her. We can only be thankful that she had the foresight to write her memoirs so that her voice is heard well into the future. This is a moving and inspiring account which I highly recommend.
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