DUIGAN, John Lawless (1949- ) Film Director, John Duigan rose to fame as an Australian film director and is particularly known for two autobiographical films
'The Year My Voice Broke’ (1987) and
‘Flirting’ (1991) both of which won Australian Film Institute (AFI) awards for Best Picture.
'The Year my Voice Broke' also won Best Director and Best Screenplay AFI awards. The subject of
'Flirting' is non-conformists in a boarding school.
John attended Geelong College from 1961 to 1966. After leaving school he gained an MA in philosophy from Melbourne University graduating in 1973. During his period at university he acted in film and theatre and also directed several theatre productions. He started film direction in 1974. He won the AFI Jury Prize for
'Mouth to Mouth' and the Australian Writers' Guild award for Best Screenplay for
'Winter of our Dreams' . From the late 1980s he worked in Europe and the United States returning to Australia to direct films such as,
'Sirens' and
'Careless Love' . His first 'Hollywood' film was released in 1989As of 2012, he had over 24 films or television episodes to his credit.
His most recent film
'Careless Love' was released in 2012. In 2008, John Duigan was present at the naming of a Qantas Airbus A380 in honour of the Duigan family’s aviation exploits. John Duigan was born in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, England on 19 June 1949 and emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1961. His father was Brian Lawless Duigan (1915-1972).
John Lawless Duigan was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in October 2014.
John Lawless Duigan
His work has included the following:
Film Director
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The Firm Man (short film), Australian Film Institute, 1975
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The Trespassers, Vega, 1975
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Mouth to Mouth, Vega, 1978
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Dimboola, Greater Union, 1979
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Winter of Our Dreams, Enterprises/Satori, 1981
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Far East, Filmco Australia, 1982
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One Night Stand, Astra Film Productions, 1983
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The Year My Voice Broke, Avenue, 1987
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Romero, Four Seasons, 1989
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Flirting, Samuel Goldwyn, 1990
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Wide Sargasso Sea, Fine Line Features, 1993
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Sirens, Miramax, 1994
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The Journey of August King, Miramax, 1995
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The Leading Man, J & M Entertainment, 1996
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Lawn Dogs, Strand Releasing, 1997
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Molly, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1999
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Paranoid, Portman Entertainment Group, 2000
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The Parole Officer, MCA/Universal, 2001
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Head in the Clouds, Sony Pictures Classics, 2004
.
Careless Love, 2012
Film Producer
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The Firm Man (short film), Australian Film Institute, 1975
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The Trespassers, Vega, 1975
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Mouth to Mouth, Vega, 1978
Sources: Ad Astra September 1972; Ad Astra December 1990 p12; New York Times 6 Nov 1992; Launceston Examiner 17 November 2008; IMDb.com; The Age (Melb) 19 May 2012 p23; Ad Astra July 2014 p51; Ad Astra July 2014 p51; OGC 1963.