Van Diemen’s Land
The true story of Australia’s most notorious convict, Alexander Pearceand his infamous escape into the beautiful yet brutal Tasmanianwilderness.
A point of no return for convicts banished from their homeland, VanDiemen’s Land was a feared and dreaded penal settlement at the end of the earth. The entrance to its remote station of secondary punishment,Macquarie Harbour, was named ‘Hell’s Gates’ by its prisoners as areference to the gates of hell in Dante’s ‘Inferno’ – "Abandon all hope ye who enter here" – was plastered at the Harbour’s mouth as a warningto all souls sent there.
In 1822, eight convicts escaped Macquarie Harbour in a fateful bid forfreedom. This band of Irish, English and Scottish thieves were immediately hurled into chaos as their plan failed and they were thrust into the heart of a harsh and foreboding landscape. With little food or equipment, in a place these immigrants knew little about, they battled a
merciless enemy – the unforgiving, barren land – a land where God wieldsan axe.
www.vandiemensland-themovie.com
IN CINEMAS 24 SEPTEMBER
Rated: MA 15+
For your chance to win one of ten double in season passes to see Van Dieman’s email win@www.if.com.au with the subject heading ‘Van Diemen’s land’.