The Rat Race Revisited

Australia’s global image has gone from bronzed surfers and bikini-clad blondes to a complex, ever-changing identity shaped by both official propaganda and rebellious filmmakers. In the 1970s, the government-controlled Commonwealth Film Unit projected a vision of a carefree, masculine, and overwhelmingly white paradise to the world. Meanwhile, independent filmmakers were capturing the counterculture, from land rights to gay rights, reshaping Australia’s narrative. This cheeky deep dive explores how film both sold and subverted the Australian identity—and why we should thank the rebels for telling the real story.