Imaginary Life, An

1997, 57 Minutes

A profile of the writer David Malouf, recognised as one of Australia’s finest novelists and poets (in 1996 his book Remembering Babylon was considered by the IMPAC literary judges to be the best novel written by anyone, anywhere, in any language, in the last three years).

An Imaginary Life is an exploration of Malouf's life and work.

In his beautiful and evocative stories the past is always very close to the surface of the present. Half-forgotten memories, inner states, obligation and friendship all provide inspiration for David Malouf. An Imaginary Life interweaves the imagined world of Malouf’s writing with the reality of places and experiences that have inspired him. We visit places from his past and delve into his Lebanese and English heritage and his memories of growing up in war-time Brisbane. We follow him to England, Ireland and the tiny Tuscan village of Campagnatico where he has written most of his work.

The interviews with Malouf reveal his underlying belief that we have the ability to transform ourselves and change the way things are. He is convinced that the power to dream out of one existence and into a higher one underpins even the most mundane life events. His novels are driven by emotion rather than storyline and he is particularly interested in the way we relate to each other; friendship; and the codes of behaviour between men.

An Imaginary Life is richly illustrated with rare archival footage and evocative dramatisations from his books and offers an emotive exploration into the life and the mind of an extraordinary writer and poet.

A Film Australia and RM Associates production. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. © 2011 National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

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