Tom Cowan

Movies

Revisiting Samskara
Samskara, the film by Pattabhi Rama Reddy, created a revolution in Indian cinema 50 years ago. Winning National and International awards. It broke barriers of caste and other social taboos, both in the process of production and on its release. 50 years later it still remains relevant and raises political and social questions that need our reflection. 'Revisiting Samskara’ is a journey back in time, in an attempt to piece together the motivation, circumstances and process. It recounts the experience of the cast and crew revisiting the same locations and recounting anecdotes of ‘Predestined Synchronicity’.
Horses: The Story of Equus
Director of Photography
The story of three horses who were all born on the same night but their lives take very different paths.
Solarmax
Director of Photography
Solarmax is a 40-minute giant-screen documentary that tells the story of humankind's struggle to understand the sun. The film will take audiences on an incredible voyage from pre-history to the leading edge of today's contemporary solar science.
Wild Australia: The Edge
Director of Photography
From beautiful but dangerous waterfalls to canyons and underground rivers carved into stone millions of years ago, Wild Australia is a stunning look at our fragile world and how it relates to Earth of ninety million years ago
Backsliding
Director of Photography
While in prison, Jack had two momentous experiences: he got religion, and met the woman who would become his wife. He and Alison are devoted to the idea of staying in God's good graces, so they have moved to a remote power station in central Australia, far from anything. Into this possibly idyllic arrangement comes a rootless young man who the power company has hired on to be the station's handyman. Tensions escalate between the men as their conflicting values rub up against one another.
Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature
Director of Photography
This large format film explores the last great wilderness on earth. It takes you to the coldest, driest, windiest continent, Antarctica. The film explores the life in Antarctica, both for the animals that live their and the scientist that work there.
Emma's War
Director of Photography
After the start of WW2, a mother takes her children from Sydney to the countryside.
On the Loose
Director of Photography
A trilogy of stories set in and around Glebe (Sydney) examining the transition from school to uncertain future for three young people.
One Night Stand
Director of Photography
In Australia, four teenagers in a Sydney theater are astounded to hear the news that a nuclear war has broken out in Eastern Europe. They try to figure out the best way they can survive the coming conflagration.
Sweet Dreamers
Director
Two young Australian filmmakers meet in London and return home with dreams of making films that reflect their Australian ideals. A film about dreams and aspirations.
Sweet Dreamers
Producer
Two young Australian filmmakers meet in London and return home with dreams of making films that reflect their Australian ideals. A film about dreams and aspirations.
Sweet Dreamers
Screenplay
Two young Australian filmmakers meet in London and return home with dreams of making films that reflect their Australian ideals. A film about dreams and aspirations.
Winter of Our Dreams
Director of Photography
When a womanizing bookshop owner hears about the suicide of a former girlfriend, he tries to find out more and meets her friend, a prostitute. They hook up, but when she finds her friend's diary, she discovers she's repeating her mistakes.
Dimboola
Cinematography
Dimboola follows the interaction of various characters at a country wedding reception.
Third Person Plural
Cinematography
Four young people get to know each other by spending weekends on a yacht stationed in Sydney's Pittwater area.
Tapak Dewata - Path of the Gods: Java and Bali
Camera Operator
A 1979 documentary on Java and Bali, written and directed by Phillip Noyce. The end credits say this film was produced for QANTAS Airways, which suggests it was used as some sort of promotional piece for travel to these particular locations.
Journey Among Women
Director of Photography
Nine women convicts escape from a prison hell-hole and dare to create a savage world free of man.
Journey Among Women
Story
Nine women convicts escape from a prison hell-hole and dare to create a savage world free of man.
Journey Among Women
Screenplay
Nine women convicts escape from a prison hell-hole and dare to create a savage world free of man.
Journey Among Women
Director
Nine women convicts escape from a prison hell-hole and dare to create a savage world free of man.
The Love Letters from Teralba Road
Cinematography
A violent man (Bryan Brown), who ostensibly has a slight mental illness due to fillings in his teeth, continues to write letters to his estranged girlfriend, Kris McQuade. She sees that he expresses himself more dearly in his letters and he is still quick tempered when they try to rekindle their relationship.
Promised Woman
Cinematography
Antigone arrives in Sydney from Greece to have an arranged marriage with Telis, but is rejected by him as he expected a younger woman. Telis's older brother, Manolis, sympathizes with Antigone.
Promised Woman
Director
Antigone arrives in Sydney from Greece to have an arranged marriage with Telis, but is rejected by him as he expected a younger woman. Telis's older brother, Manolis, sympathizes with Antigone.
Pure Shit
Cinematography
Four young heroin addicts scour the streets of Melbourne in search of some good-quality narcotics – or as they call it, 'pure shit’. In the space of 48 hours, a friend dies of an overdose, they are ripped off by criminals and arrested and assaulted by police. They bungle a break-in, get chased by hooligans and one is sent to a methadone clinic. The search for drugs veers between farce and tragedy, but it never stops.
Renegades: Fragments from a Diary of Three Years' Experience 1970-1973
Director of Photography
A fragmented film, largely following street performer George Shevtsov at the 1970 Vietnam Moratorium, the Odyssey Pop Festival at Wallacia in 1971, and street theatre sneezing for lunchtime crowds. The film then takes a darker turn, contrasting audio from a court case with footage of police.
Caravan Park
Director of Photography
When their car breaks down on the way to Queensland, a family is forced to take up residence at a caravan park while the father tries to earn enough money to get the car repaired.
The Office Picnic
Director
Clyde is a typical junior clerk in a public service office. He watches the budding friendship between two co-workers and he turns it into the permanent office joke. At the same time he plays out his own neurotic relationship with a bored and frustrated secretary. The cruel mass victimisation of the young lovers is carried to the annual office picnic. Office tensions are changed by the unfamiliar surroundings where the disappearance of the two lovers forces Clyde to re-examine his own shallow emotional development.
Samskara
Director of Photography
Narayanappa, a Madhwa Brahmin man, dies in the Agrahara of the village Durvasapura. As per Madhwa customs, his last rites must be performed at the earliest. However, due to Narayanappa's rebellious actions in life, which included eating meat, consuming liquor and marrying a prostitute, there is disagreement amongst the Brahmins of the village as to who will perform his rites.
Life in Australia: Melbourne
Director of Photography
This film shows an idyllic picture of life in the Victorian capital of Melbourne in the mid 1960s.
The Case For Books
Cinematography
This film about Library services in Australia shows some of the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library, the National Library with its varied resources and examples of State, University, special and public services suggesting their value in meeting needs for information at all levels. The library movement has become a vital part of Australian life. How libraries have fitted into society all over Australia, from the bustle of Sydney's Kings Cross to the remote outback.
The Dancing Class
Director
A self-assured, chain-smoking ballet teacher gives macho instruction to a small group of tender young ballerinas.
Nimmo Street
Director
A neo-realist drama set near the crumbling Arrow Theatre. Two street bodgies hang around near the station and try to terrorise an Italian girl. A boy tries to fight for her and is beaten up. The dry streets of Middle Park reflect the crabbed lives of the star-crossed lovers.