The Great White Whale

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Deep in the wild Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and South Africa, a snowy volcano, nine thousand feet high, rears up from the sea like a great white whale.

Five times that great white whale of a mountain, tried to kill the first team that sort to reach its summit. Yet in 1963, back they sailed, through the worst seas in the world, to try again, this time with legendary explorer, Bill Tilman as their skipper.

This is the extraordinary tale those first attempts to climb Big Ben, the smoking glacier ringed volcano on Heard Island, Australia’s loneliest, most remote outpost, told by those who were there. At times, expeditioner John Crick sings the story too, as befits such an epic saga.

The beautifully shot original footage of the expedition, the brilliant music score, the quirky humour of the expeditioners, the utter boldness of the quest, adds spice to one of the least known yet most audacious Australian adventure tales of the 20th century.

“Gripping, edge of the seat stuff.”

‘An absolute triumph. I found the film incredibly powerful.”

“Heart stopping. Funny. A ripping yarn!”

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  UPCOMING SCREENINGS: Click highlighted links for tickets. For other dates, links will be added as they become available

GRAND PRIZE & BEST DIRECTOR AWARD, Mendi International Mountain Film Festival, Balboa 2023, BEST EXPEDITION FILM AWARD & ITALIAN ALPINE CLUB AWARD Trento International Mountain Flm Festival. 2024. AUDIENCE AWARD Cervino Film Festival 2024
Directed and Produced by Michael Dillon. Editor: Mike Balson. Sound: Michael Worthington. Music: Paul Jarman.  

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