Sirens, released in theaters on March 4, 1994, is a lush and philosophical romantic comedy set in the intoxicating heat of 1930s rural Australia. The film brilliantly contrasts the stifling social mores of the time with the radical, sun-drenched freedom of an artistic commune. It’s a visually striking and thoughtful exploration of censorship, desire, and the surprising paths to self-discovery.
The story begins with the arrival of Anthony Campion (Hugh Grant), a young, highly moralistic Anglican clergyman, and his wife, Estella (Tara Fitzgerald), from England.
Anthony has been tasked by the church with a delicate, yet crucial mission: to travel to Australia and persuade the notoriously eccentric and celebrated artist, Norman Lindsay (Sam Neill), to withdraw a series of his sexually charged, controversial paintings from an exhibition.
Lindsay’s work is deemed scandalous and corrupting by the religious establishment.
Anthony and Estella journey to Lindsay’s secluded, bohemian estate, which turns out to be a paradise populated not just by the philosophical artist and his family, but also by his stunning, free-spirited muses, including Sheela (Elle Macpherson) and the strikingly sensual Giddy (Portia de Rossi).
These models live in an easy, natural state of being, often nude, challenging every moral and societal boundary the Campions hold dear.
While Anthony attempts to engage Lindsay in a battle of theology and ethics, Estella finds herself mesmerized—and deeply threatened—by the models’ lack of inhibition.
The supporting cast, which includes a memorable performance from Ben Mendelsohn, further rounds out the earthy, less restrained local life.
Sirens (Photo/Miramax Films)
Reception for Sirens
Sirens grossed $34,299 on its opening weekend, in limited release on two screens.
The film would gross $7.8 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Sirens three and a half stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of Sirens rests on its bold, beautiful cinematography and its subtle, intelligent script.
It uses the vibrant, untamed Australian landscape as a foil to the repression Estella carries, making her quiet transformation the film’s central drama.
Sirens is a captivating look at how easily strict morality can crumble in the face of natural human desire, proving that true art is less about the subject matter and more about the impact it has on the viewer’s hidden life.
