Event: Children of the Wicker Man
Date: Sunday 5 May 2024
Time: 18:30
Venue: University of Malta, Valletta Campus Theatre, Valletta
Following its world premiere screening in Porto Alegre at the “Fantaspoa” festival, the M.A. in Film Studies at the University of Malta is excited to announce the second-ever showing of Children of the Wicker Man, a documentary directed by Justin Hardy, Dominic Hardy (Université du Québec à Montréal), and Chris Nunn (University of Birmingham), and produced by Alison Palmer.
The 1973 cult film The Wicker Man, hailed by Christopher Lee as the best film he ever starred in, not only endured a troubled production but also suffered as a box-office flop upon its initial release, tragically impacting the life of its director, Robin Hardy, and his family. Five decades after the making of The Wicker Man, Robin Hardy’s lost papers from the years 1970-1974 came into the possession of his son Justin, thanks to the kindness of a stranger. These papers shed new light on the various phases of the film’s production and provided Justin and his half-brother Dominic with a deeper understanding of their father, with whom they shared an emotionally intense yet strained relationship.
What sets this documentary apart is Robin Hardy’s perspective, as conveyed through his sons. While previous sources have primarily focused on the viewpoint of The Wicker Man’s renowned scriptwriter, Anthony Shaffer, or other contributors who often portrayed Hardy unfavourably, Children of the Wicker Man offers a glimpse into the director’s own experiences during the film’s creation, a crucial aspect that had previously been overlooked.
In 2016, Robin Hardy made his last public appearance in Malta, where he delivered a mesmerising masterclass and engaged in a lively Q&A session following the screening of the “final cut” of The Wicker Man. Both events were organised by the Faculty of Arts’ M.A. in Film Studies. For Hardy, this was not just a routine trip; it was a moment of acknowledgment. Despite knowing that his days were numbered, he was determined to visit Malta and present his masterpiece one final time. Therefore, his children Justin and Dominic, along with Chris Nunn, chose to film the documentary’s concluding segment in Malta, retracing the footsteps of their late father.
Children of the Wicker Man will be screened on Sunday 5 May 2024 at the University of Malta’s Valletta Campus Theatre (St Paul’s Street, Valletta) at 18.30. A Q&A session with the directors and the producer will follow the screening. The general public is warmly invited to attend, and admission is free.
The M.A. in Film Studies offered by the Faculty of Arts is an evening course supported by the Malta Film Commission. This part-time programme integrates theoretical teachings with hands-on experience, allowing students to collaborate on the entire filmmaking process, from scriptwriting to postproduction, by planning and shooting short films collectively.
Further information may be obtained online.