Sunday July 11th 7pm George Cinemas.

Michael Lee came to Melbourne in 1968 to study at Swinburne College, then the only film-making school in Australia. He became involved in the blossoming avant-garde film scene in Melbourne. He was a member of the founding board of the Melbourne Filmmakers Co-operative and later served on the board of the Modern Image Makers Association. He has produced over a dozen 16mm films.

THE MYSTICAL ROSE
1976 | 65 min | 16mm

The film combines several animation techniques with live action and found footage. It is based on the structure of the Catholic mass and deals with themes of sexual repression, guilt and apostasy.

A CONTEMPLATION OF THE CROSS
1989 | 27 min | 16mm

This film also uses a variety of techniques. The filmmaker’s intention was to produce a cinematic “icon”, which is an image designed to stimulate meditation upon a sacred mystery - in this case the crucifixion of Jesus.

“The Mystical Rose was my first major effort at filmmaking and grew out of the confusion I experienced in my early 20s when the values of my strict Catholic upbringing in Brisbane were challenged by the bohemian atmosphere I found myself in when I came down to Melbourne. A Contemplation of the Cross, made a dozen years later, is an expression of my mature religious faith.” - Michael Lee.

Q & A to follow screening.