Sydney Film Festival director defends screening of The Nightingale

Disgusted punters walked out of the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday night during a screening of the gory period drama The Nightingale. 

But the festival’s director Nashen Moodley has defended the screening of the film – in which the lead character is raped multiple times in the opening 20 minutes.

‘The film is confronting and does contain scenes of brutal violence,’ he told Sydney Confidential on Tuesday. 

‘The film is confronting’: Sydney Film Festival director defends screening of The Nightingale after disgusted cinema-goers walked out of the gory period drama. Pictured: The Nightingale

‘It is not unexpected that some audience members will choose to not remain in the screening,’ the festival director added.

There have been calls for a disclaimer about the film’s graphic content to be shown before it starts, but Mr Moodley said there were warnings in the festival guide. 

The festival’s short description of the film includes reference to its ‘frequently brutal and shocking nature’ – but adds it is ‘necessarily so’.  

Outspoken: ‘The film is confronting and does contain scenes of brutal violence,’  Nashen Moodley (right) said on Tuesday. ‘It is not unexpected that some audience members will choose to not remain in the screening. Pictured with Clover Moore

Set in 1825, The Nightingale follows 21-year-old Irish convict Clare in colonial Tasmania – who seeks revenge after violence is committed against her family. 

One shocked member in the audience could not contain their rage at one of the scenes on Sunday, shouting ‘She’s already been raped, we don’t need to see it again,’ according to News.com.au.

Further scenes showed extreme violence inflicted on babies and young children, as well as horrific zoomed-in footage of rape and torture.

Extreme cinema: Disgusted punters walked out in disgust at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday night during a screening of the film. Pictured: Actress Aisling Franciosi

Many members of the audience found this too much to bear, as demonstrated by the exodus from the theatre.

Reviewers have criticized the brutal footage, with Johnny Oleksinski saying it ‘will make you nauseous’.

He wrote in the New York Post: ‘Vacuum-packing a non-stop supply of rapes, deaths and beatings into more than two hours is needlessly punishing and comes at the expense of character and story.’ 

He added: ‘If we weren’t aware of the historical atrocities committed by British soldiers across the colonies already, we certainly are by the fourth rape scene. What, then, of the fifth or the sixth?’ 

Historical drama: Set in 1825, The Nightingale follows 21-year-old Irish convict Clare (Aisling Franciosi), who seeks revenge after violence is committed against her family

While the horrific scenes prompted many people to walk out of the Sydney Film Festival premiere, others found it to be compelling viewing. 

Director Jennifer Kent has since shared a statement in response that read: ‘Whilst The Nightingale contains historically accurate depictions of colonial violence and racism towards our indigenous people, the film is not ‘about’ violence.   

‘It’s about the need for love, compassion and kindness in dark times. Both Aisling Franciosi and myself have been personally contacted by more than a few victims of sexual violence after screenings who are grateful for the film’s honesty and who have drawn comfort from its themes. 

‘I do not believe this would be happening if the film was at all gratuitous or exploitative.’

If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, you can call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732 or the Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 

Controversial: ‘It’s about the need for love, compassion and kindness in dark times’ director Jennifer Kent (pictured) said of her film