The profits of Alvin Purple encouraged Tim Burstall to come up with a more ambitious film: a serious look at the ocker in Australia, in this case an electrician (Jack Thompson, in a star-making turn) who enrols himself at university. Compared to Alvin, Stork and Bazza McKenzie, Petersen is something of a superhero: a former football star who can beat up a bikie gang single-handed, discuss Shakespeare, guzzle beer and have sex not only with a gorgeous tutor (Wendy Hughes) but his wife (Jackie Weaver) and an equally gorgeous student (Belinda Giblin) who he lays on the lawn of the Commerce Building as a protest (uni life seems to have been more fun in the early 70s). So it comes as a bit of a surprise when he turns rapist at the end.
David Williamson’s script, an original for the screen, gets off to a great start but peters off towards the end. Still the film is full of energy and freshness, with a great performance by Thompson. The DVD offers a good featurette on the making of the film.
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