IASH Documentary Series 2017 - Facing the Music

Facing the Music (2001, 90 min)           

Directed by Bob Connolly & Robin Anderson

This documentary follows staff and students at the University of Sydney as they attempt to save their Music Department.

At the centre of this tragic story is composer Professor Anne Boyd, the department head. We follow her as she battles university administrators and budget cuts during John Howard’s time as Prime Minister. The questions it raises—about the meaning of academia and creativity—remain pertinent in Australia today.

The directors, Connolly and Anderson, are arguably Australia’s most accomplished documentary-making partnership. Facing the Music is emblematic of their distinct hands-off observational style and is ‘one of the great Australian films’ (Margaret Pomeranz).