| In Search of Anna | |
| Director: | Esben Storm |
| Producer: | Esben Storm |
| Starring: | Richard Moir Judy Morris Chris Haywood |
| Music: | John Martyn Alan Stivell |
| Cinematography: | Michael Edols |
| Editing: | Dusan Werner |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | A$327,665[1] |
In Search of Anna is a 1978 film directed by Esben Storm.
It was originally envisioned as a TV series but then became a feature.[2]
Richard Moir plays Tony, who has just been released from jail. His former inmates want him to participate in a robbery, but Tony just wants to find Anna and ends up dealing with one problem at a time.
It was Storm's second feature, following his debut with 27A and after an unsuccessful attempt to make another movie called Angel Gear.
I became aware that all the films being made in Australia were period films, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Getting of Wisdom, Between Wars. I felt this reflected a society that was unable to come to terms with where it was at. I know you have to look into the past and find your heroes but it seemed to me that it was reflective of a desire not to face up to where we were at. That also coincided with where I was at personally in my relationship to women and to Haydn [former collaborator [[Haydn Keenan]]], so I thought I should make a film about leaving the past behind and coming to terms with the present, moving into the future with a positive attitude. That's what I thought I should do personally and that's what I felt Australia should do. It led to In Search of Anna.[3]
The budget was meant to be $231,000 but went more than $100,000 over. $50,000 was provided by the Victorian Film Corporation.[4] Shooting began on 28 February 1977.[1]
According to Storm the film performed "really well, relatively" at the Australian box office, running for six weeks. It was also nominated for six AFI Awards.[3]
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards (1978 AFI Awards) | Best Film | Esben Storm | |
| Best Direction | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | |||
| Best Actor | Richard Moir | ||