‘Inspiration, abomination, lesbian pin-up, Christian tear-up, Roman’s reference, Egyptians’ refuse, empty vessel, imaginative void…’

2700 years ago, Sappho is the world’s first love poet, the tenth muse of the ancient Greeks, and the inspiration for every lovelorn
writer and songster since.

But as the centuries have passed with the coming and goings of hundreds of libidinous handymen restoring her buttresses, history has caught up with Sappho. Her tale has become a gap in time for new generations to pour their needs and desires, but what is the truth behind her own story? Placed alongside a modern love story of sensuality, sexual awakening and broken-hearts, Sappho... in 9 fragments exposes the timeless undoing of love.

‘And the stars around the moon looked away, hid their radiant jewels, as she bathed the whole world with her luminous glow. I do not know what to do; my mind has shattered in two.’

'Delivered with perfectly poised satire…a very illuminating journey through the life—or more precisely the legacy—of this most fascinating writer.’    The Age

Cast : 1F

Based on the celebrated novel by Kenneth Cook, the film Wake in Fright was critically acclaimed on its release, and is considered one of the best films produced in Australia, influencing recent films such as Wolf Creek. The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971 and again on re-release in 2009 as a Classic.

Tina Kaufman explores the this great work and what it portrays about Australian culture. Co-published along with the National Film and Sound Archive this is the 10th title in the Australian Screen Classics series.