Strata

Synopsis

Two groups wander the Volcanic Plateau. One is a team comprising a vulcanologist, a writer and a photographer, and the other is a group of five people who have escaped from quarantine.

Cast

Nigel Davenport as Victor

John Banas as Steve

Judy Morris as Margaret

Patrick Smyth as Quarantine Doctor

John Watson as Doctor

Anne Walls as Receptionist

Tom Brennan as Eric

Roy Billing as Keith

Peter Nicoll as Tony

Mary Regan as Gaylene

Ctibor Turba as Thomas

Norman Forsey as Dr. Hunter

Philip Holder as Orderly

Phillip Gordon as Helicopter Pilot

Reception

New Zealand film, 1912-1996 says "The characters represent ideas and are never credible as people." Rosemary Hemmings in Art New Zealand writes "Strata is pervaded with a sense of mystery; it more than ever is an essay in surrealism, in what might be called 'magic realism': and this is furthered by Krumbachova's propensity for using symbols to give the impression of things not being quite what they seem; and Stevens's concern as a director to use colours and locations 'not as overt symbols but as nuances'" Variety begins "Strata pays its audience the compliment of assuming that it does not have to use tricks or beguilement to claim total attention. The Oregonian's Ted Mahar notes "before the end, but a bogglingly ambiguous finale is not provocative but simply arbitrary. Various possibilities are quite obvious — and quite cliche. Perhaps Steven hoped to add meaning and mystery by subtracting plot resolution. He simply adds aggravation and dilutes what he'd already done.