The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce

Wed, 14 Jan, 2009

One of colonial Australia's darkest tales comes to life in the new film, The Confession of Alexander Pearce.

Based on a true story it fuses Australian and Irish history and highlights the terrible conditions and suffering that existed in Austalia's penal colonies.

IN 1822, eight men escaped from the most isolated and brutal prison on earth, Sarah Island in Van Diemen's Land. Only one man survived and his tale of betrayal, murder and cannibalism shocked the British establishment to the core.

Alexander Pearce was Marcus Clarke’s inspiration in For The Term of His Natural Life and Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.

Producer and writer Nial Fulton says, "...it's not intended to force people to think about a specific reality but to question the "facts" of our complicated and murky history."

The film has been Nominated for Best Drama at the Irish Film & Television Academy Awards.

Screening dates:

ABC 25.01.09 at 8.30pm
BBC 23.02.09 at 9.00pm

Related links:

The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce on Facebook

More information and video clips can be found at ABC Online.