If there’s anything I’ve learned from my Australian friends, the most important of all is that it’s a country that does have its own ideas and ideals, and has a unique identity and cultural touchstones that I will only begin to understand.
My friends’ ensuing glee over this trailer is proof-positive of this:
The official synopsis of the original novel by John Marsden goes like this:
Australian teenager Ellie and six of her friends return from a winter break camping trip to find their homes burned or deserted, their families imprisoned, and their country occupied by a foreign military force in league with a band of disaffected Australians. As their shock wears off, the seven decide they must stick together if they are to survive.
The film was adapted by Stuart Beattie (Collateral, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) who will also be making his debut as a director. The lead character in the book, Ellie Linton, will be played by Caitlin Stasey who is best-known for a long-running role in “Neighbours,” an Australian soap opera.
Now, before all of you readers in the U.S. start screaming, “This is a Red Dawn rip-off!” I do have to point out that there are 9 novels in what’s known as the Tomorrow series and its spinoff The Ellie Chronicles, and that an entire generation of young adults who devoured the books have been waiting almost two decades for this adaptation. Besides, Beattie already addressed this concern back in June 2009 when his involvement was first-announced:
“I don’t want to make Red Dawn, ” said Beattie, though he admits to liking the movie that MGM is in the process of remaking. “Do you remember when The Full Monty and Striptease were coming out together? They came out within months as the exact same premise—the parent strips for money so they can see their kid. But completely different. One was all flash and rockin’ body, and the other was completely the opposite, of total insecurity about getting up onstage. We’re more like the Full Monty version.”
Tomorrow will be released on September 2 in Australia and New Zealand; no word yet on any other foreign distribution dates.