In a year that was strong on homegrown documentaries and dramas, Guardian Australia’s film critic picks his favourites
Most – if not all – of us would like memories of 2021 erased from our minds post-haste so we can move on from a year which – just like the previous one – has been aptly and regularly described as a “shitshow”. But moving on, we would want to bring with us the films that helped us through, including several from our national cinema, which offered more than a few treats to break up the chaos and drudgery.
It was a particularly strong year for documentaries, with five making this list – three of them exploring artists who have had a profound impact on
Australian culture. To qualify for this list, films needed to have had a release outside the festival circuit, either theatrically or on a streaming platform.