After a year of filming When the House is Empty: The Journey of Four Seasons is finally nearing its long-awaited completion.

The film comprises over 200 hours of footage, spanning three locations, four major shoots and twenty-seven additional ones, telling a story of desire, love, loss and humour.

According to Director Timothy Hills, the film is a cinematic masterpiece that focuses on universal themes.

“The crew is gearing up for a pivotal shoot in Sydney this July to wrap up Act 1, a significant leap towards realising our vision,” he said.

“In an industry often reflective of high school cliques and rivalries, When the House is Empty: The Journey of Four Seasons; is a celebration of storytelling that rises above the fray, focusing on the universal themes that connect us all.

“This film is more than a collection of scenes; it is a marvel of cinema, a bold declaration of capturing life’s essence.”

The protagonist’s story arc is a vivid journey through a world painted in Kodachrome colours, where each season and location seamlessly transitions into the next, reflecting her evolving journey.

From the void of a missing child and the silent departure of a father, the narrative unfolds into an exploration of her past—a story that promises to resonate with audiences through its portrayal of hope, love and meaning.

Echoing the film Walkabout this narrative contrasts the modern world with nature, highlighting the cultural divide between the contemporary and the ancient. It invites viewers to find meaning in the unspoken and unseen, to understand the transformation that occurs in the silence of the Australian outback.

Also inspired by Tracks, the tale of Robyn Davidson’s solitary desert journey When the House is Empty: The Journey of Four Seasons similarly makes the landscape a central character.

The editing team, led by Timothy Hills, Matt Thomson, Alicia Gleeson, Anthony Porter, Annabel Berry, Simonne Lelievre, Ken Hammond and many more, have assembled seventeen scenes thus far, with one hundred and twenty-seven still to be edited.

Mr Hills hopes that those who enjoy the film in the future will be able to embrace the deeper meaning at its centre.

“As we near the end of this cinematic journey, we invite our audience to embrace the stillness, to listen to the silence, and to discover their own answers within the story’s canvas,” he said.

“When the House is Empty: The Journey of Four Seasons; is not just a film; it’s an invitation to traverse the landscapes of the heart and mind, where the softest whispers can sometimes speak the loudest.”  

This article appeared in the  Narrandera Argus, 27 June 2024.

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