It was a fantastic year for Australian Cinema, with each film I saw knocking it out of the park. There were intimate documentaries, films that held up a mirror to society, and those that brought the action to a new level. This list will look more at the locally-made Australian productions/co-productions and not just films filmed in Australia.

So without further ado, these are the best Australian Cinema in 2022. Be warned that there will be significant spoilers for the films in question.

The Nominees Are –

6 Festivals

A look at the joys of youth and how fraught that can be.

Christmas Ransom

A fun little heist film and a look at the role of family.

The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson

Bringing a new light on a classic poem, bringing an Indigenous perspective to colonial Australia.

Elvis

A raw exploration of the rise and fall of a rock king.

Gold

Isolation and greed, are a powerful combination, and a dangerous one

And the Winner is!!!!! – The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson

Directed by – Leah Purcell
Written by – Leah Purcell
Based on – The Drover’s Wife by Henry Lawson & The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell

The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson is an unflinching look at so-called civilization at the so-called frontier. It explores power and privilege and how they can be used to control people. It could have just been a bleak film, but there is a heart to it that makes it shine. The performances bring this world to life as it tells the complex story of a woman that has an unenviable choice to make and the ramifications that follow. All while we see the haunting beauty of the Snowy Mountains.  

 By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2022?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studio and artist of each film