October 20th, 2013

Autopsy on a Dream

Documentary
History
7.5

In 1968, John Weiley shot 'Autopsy on a Dream' - a film about the Sydney Opera House detailing its construction process and the politics of Jorn Utzon's dismissal. Weiley's film was controversial; it was screened once and then he was told it had been destroyed. Forty five years later a copy was discovered in the BBC vaults by an ABC producer looking for archive footage of the Opera House. Weiley was contacted and told about a film that had no sound track. Weiley was overjoyed; for years he had kept the original sound. So began the painstaking process of restoring this record of a unique moment in Australian culture to its former glory, complete with updated voice-over from the original narrator, Bob Ellis. It is set in context by a 30 minute prologue entitled 'The Dream of Perfection'. Made by the same filmmaker, John Weiley, forty-five years on, 'Dream of Perfection' tells the story of the 1968 film - from commission to destruction, to surprise resurrection.

Trailer
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Production Companies

Felix Media
Screen Australia
BBC

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Videos

Cast

Acting

Bob Ellis

Self

Writing

John Weiley

Self

Acting

Jan Utzon

Self

Acting

Lin Utzon

Self

Acting

Jorn Utzon

Self

Acting

Richard le Plaistrier

Self

Acting

David Attenborough

Self

David Attenborough

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