(Natalie Dormer as
Hester Appleyard in “Picnic At Hanging Rock”)
Slide into a surreal mystery with the much-talked about
acclaimed miniseries, Picnic at Hanging
Rock, which starts on M-Net channel 101 on DStv on August 20, at 23h10.
From the trailblazing timeless classic novel by Joan
Lindsay, this surreal and stylish drama is fronted by Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer.
Led by their enigmatic and formidable headmistress, Hester
Appleyard (Dormer), a group of schoolgirls from Appleyard Ladies College go on
an outing to the infamous Hanging Rock on Valentine’s Day 1900. As the sun
beats down and the afternoon progresses, three girls and their governess
explore the rock - only to mysteriously vanish into the Australian wilderness.
Their inexplicable disappearance will have a devastating impact on the staff,
students and the rest of town, all of whom start to unravel once secrets slowly
start surfacing and conspiracy theories twist into terrifying hysteria.
The stakes are high. The clock is ticking. But time plays
tricks and the intensity of this mystery will force our characters to question
how far they would go to escape their pasts and how far they would go to be
free of their futures.
Each episode will tantalisingly piece together the events
that led to the disappearance, as pivotal moments will be revisited creating
fresh suspicions - and revealing new layers to this dark drama. With a vast
narrative, the stunningly shot miniseries offers viewers themes of sex and
murder, love and death and beauty and cruelty. Contemporary issues of control,
sexuality, identity and the overwhelming power of nature are also explored.
Gorgeous gothic mansions and beautifully detailed Victorian
costumes effortlessly set the tone for this polished period drama, along with a
cast of relatable characters: a magnificent female antagonist, a handsome young
hero and a rebellious young heroine.
Acclaimed director Larysa Kondracki, best known for her work
on the movie The Whistleblower,
series Gotham, The Americans and Legion directed the first three episodes
of the show, introducing viewers to fevered dreamscapes and distorted
recollections that are sure to tap into fears of the unknown. Along with the
source material, the series’ script was further complimented by writer Beatrix
Christian.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
stars Natalie Dormer as Hester Appleyard, Lily Sullivan as Miranda Reid, Samara
Weaving as Irma Leopold, Madeleine Madden as Marion Quade, Lola Bessis as
Mademoiselle Dianne de Poitiers and Harrison Gilbertson as Michael Fitzhubert.
For more information on all M-Net channel 101 shows check
out mnet.tv and follow the conversation on Twitter @MNet (#MNet101
#PicnicAtHangingRock) or on the official M-Net Facebook page.
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