Autopsy on a Dream

Autopsy on a Dream — Plot

In 1968, John Weiley shot 'Autopsy on a Dream' - a film about the Sydney Opera House detailing its construction process and the politics of Jorn Utzon's dismissal. Weiley's film was controversial; it was screened once and then he was told it had been destroyed. Forty five years later a copy was discovered in the BBC vaults by an ABC producer looking for archive footage of the Opera House. Weiley was contacted and told about a film that had no sound track. Weiley was overjoyed; for years he had kept the original sound. So began the painstaking process of restoring this record of a unique moment in Australian culture to its former glory, complete with updated voice-over from the original narrator, Bob Ellis. It is set in context by a 30 minute prologue entitled 'The Dream of Perfection'. Made by the same filmmaker, John Weiley, forty-five years on, 'Dream of Perfection' tells the story of the 1968 film - from commission to destruction, to surprise resurrection.

• Release date
• October 20, 2013
• Runtime
• 90 min
• Genres
• Documentary, History
• Director
• John Weiley

Autopsy on a Dream — Cast

B

Bob Ellis Self

J

John Weiley Self

J

Jan Utzon Self

L

Lin Utzon Self

J

Jorn Utzon Self

R

Richard le Plaistrier Self David Attenborough Self