Peter Strickland: Capturing the Uncanny

Overview

Whether he's delving into revenge noir, taking on Italian giallo horror or spinning a cinematic story about a haunted dress, it's safe to say that no one makes films quite like Peter Strickland. That's the type of statement that every director aims for, but the proof is in the British auteur's distinctive frames — and in their immensely textured combination of images and audio.

From 2009's Katalin Varga and 2012's Berberian Sound Studio, to 2014's The Duke of Burgundy and 2018's In Fabric, you can pick one of Strickland's features just by looking at and listening to a mere snippet of it. The same rings true with his electrifying concert film, Björk: Biophilia Live, too. If you're keen to discover his wonders for yourself, all five movies will screen at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art across a three-day retrospective dedicated to the filmmaker. Four of Strickland's audio works will also play, so you can realise just how masterful his use of sound is, especially when he's not pairing it with visuals.

The added bonus: Strickland himself is also coming to Brisbane, and will chat about his work across a 60-minute in-conversation session following a screening of In Fabric. Presented by GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque in partnership with the Queensland Film Festival, it's a rare chance to see an inimitable film talent discuss his craft — and cinephile catnip.