The Well 1997
The Well ★★ 1997
Repression, isolation, and tragedy set in barren rural Australia. Drab, middleaged Hester (Rabe) hires spirited teenager Katherine (Otto) to help out on her bleak farm. Hester soon becomes emotional dependent on Katherine, who eventually convinces her to sell the property so they can travel to Europe. (Yes, “The Servant” will come to mind.) But a car accident (caused by Katherine) claims the life of a mystery man and Hester decides to hide the body in an unused well. Then they discover all their money has been stolen, probably by their dead friend, and just who's going down the well to retrieve it? Based on a novel by Elizabeth Jolley. 101m/C VHS, DVD . AU Pamela Rabe, Miranda Otto, Paul Chubb; D: Samantha Lang; W: Laura Jones; C: Mandy Walker; M: Stephen Rae. Australian Film Inst. ‘97: Actress (Rabe), Adapt. Screenplay, Art Dir./Set Dec.