The Pursuit of Happiness Redux

Book now as 3 May’s not far away!

The Pursuit of Happiness, a 1988 movie that was being filmed in and around Freo 40 years ago, is to screen at the Luna Leederville on Sunday, 3 May at 6pm.

During the mid-1980s it was shown nationally and broadcast on the ABC and has now been restored.

The film is an anti-war drama documentary about the ties that bind couples and nations, shot during a US nuclear fleet visit to Fremantle.

Cast members include a large number of ordinary Freo residents as well as professional actors. WAAPA graduate Laura Black is the lead, supported by Anna Gare of the girl group The Jam Tarts as her teenage daughter.

Musician Lucky Oceans and WA’s first Greens Senator Jo Vallentine are among the non-professionals and it should be fun for the audience to spot people they know among the war veterans, waterfront workers, high school kids, demonstrators, local and state politicians and others who make brief appearances.

Current Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John and former ABC journalist Sophie McNeil MLC will introduce the film and lead a discussion about the current US warship visits to Fremantle and AUKUS.

As the pitch goes:

The Pursuit of Happiness was made at a time when the world shivered in the shadow of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union; today, security concerns have altered, but Australia remains tied into US strategies, facilities and weaponry for fighting a nuclear war. Now Australia must deal with a partner whose recent actions in Iran are mad, bad and potentially very, very dangerous.

This is a one-off screening with limited seating, so book here now!

Note: Funds raised from the screening will go to Greens (WA).

Btw, if you appeared in Pursuit of Happiness yourself, please let Dave Worth know on david.worth@live.com.au or 0414 509 043.

Here’s The Pursuit of Happiness trailer for the whole vibe!

*By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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