Ellis Park
15
Why watch?
“Don’t miss this! 3 chances left this week to see the astounding film 'Ellis Park' at Hyde Park Picture House. The Bad Seeds’ Warren Ellis lays bare his soul with moving honesty and beautiful music. His journey through a challenging childhood in Victoria, finding purpose and joy in his incredible musical career and more recently funding a rescue centre for trafficked wild animals in Sumatra is simply wonderful. Warren’s warmth and understated wisdom, the strength and passion of the animal rescue team and the beauty in the music, animals and his redeemed relationship with his dying father will glow in your mind for days to come in a unique film whose messages are honesty, creativity and positive action.”
Justinia Lewis,
Jumbo Records
A key member of iconic bands The Dirty Three and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, multi-instrumentalist and renowned film composer Ellis has cut a brilliant and unorthodox figure in music for over three decades. Far from the international concert halls in which he has plied his craft, lies a very different passion project: a wildlife sanctuary in the forests of Sumatra. Co-founded by Ellis and spearheaded by the indomitable Femke den Haas, whose dedicated team of conservationists rescue trafficked and mistreated animals and then devote years to nursing them back to health.
This fly-on-the-wall documentary offers both a deeply personal insight into one artist’s life through the act of creating and an inspiring reminder of how much can be achieved when passionate people come together to do great things to impact the world around them.