Celebrating the vibrancy and modernity of Australian cinema, 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), hosted in the vibrant state of Goa, showcased Force of Nature: The Dry 2 as a special feature in the “Country Focus: Australia” segment. Director, writer, and producer Robert Connolly engaged with the media in Goa today.
The film follows five women on an executive retreat into a remote wilderness, but only four of them return. Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk becomes deeply invested in uncovering the fate of the missing hiker. As he searches for answers, buried memories from his childhood in the same rugged landscape begin to resurface, intertwining with the mystery of what truly happened.
A cinematic brilliance, the film explores themes of justice, family loyalty, and the emotional scars of the past. It is a gripping thriller that blends a tense investigation with rich character-driven storytelling, set against the unforgiving backdrop of rural Australia.
While addressing the media, Robert Connolly expressed his deep admiration for Indian cinema, stating, “We learn about India through cinema, and I truly loved playing to a packed Indian audience.” When asked about the significance of landscapes in his films, he emphasized their vital role, describing them as ‘critical’ and even as special ‘characters’ in his stories. He further explained that understanding the impact of landscapes on people is essential to crafting meaningful narratives.
On the topic of addressing global issues like climate change through cinema, the director acknowledged the importance of the issue, stating, “It’s an important issue, and emerging filmmakers need to focus on creating films that highlight the impact of climate change.”
In the closing remarks, he also highlighted the growing global reach of Indian cinema, noting that it is watched in large numbers by audiences in Australia. The director also spoke highly of the IFFI, calling it “a foundation for building some exciting stories worldwide.”
