Frog Dreaming
Encyclopedia
Frog Dreaming is a 1986
Australia
n film
starring Henry Thomas
.
In the United States
the film was named 'The Quest'. In the United Kingdom
it was named 'The Go-Kids'.
Scenes from the movie were filmed at the former quarry site of Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve
located in Mount Eliza, Victoria
.
boy, Cody (Thomas), whose parents have died, lives in Australia
with his guardian, Gaza. Cody is very imaginative, inventive, and inquisitive. He comes across some strange events happening in Devil's Knob national park associated with an Aboriginal
myth about "frog Dreamings" and bunyip
s. Cody tries to investigate. The occurrences revolve around a small lake where a monster the locals call "Donkegin" supposedly lives. Another myth explored by the children is the story of the Kurdaitcha
Man who acts as a sort of Australian version of the Boogey Man as well as a supernatural judge who deals out punishment. The children are told that he punishes any wrongs done according to the laws of the ancient Aboriginees including harm to one another, murder of animals without need for food, and destroying the environment (his appearance being most notable according to myth when white men came). The Kurdaitcha Man supposedly wanders the countryside, specifically at night, and wears shoes made of Emu feathers in order to cover any tracks.
With incidents at the lake increasing, Cody fashions a makeshift diving suit and goes into the lake to search, but he never comes back up. Thinking that he has drowned, the townsfolk drain the lake to recover his body. But what they really find is shocking...
The townspeople find that Cody is trapped inside Donkegin, who raises its head and begins to let out an unusual cry. The cry is reminiscent of old, rusted metal. One of the officials recognizes the shape as lights penetrate the greenery that is covering Donkegin and giving it its monstrous appearance.
They discover that Donkegin is in fact an old Donkey engine or a type of excavator
or steam-shovel used in construction work years ago. It is also revealed that several other items have accumulated at the bottom of the lake including a car and a bicycle. The locals manage to get Cody out and to safety and dispel the myth of the monster in the lake. The myth of the Kurdaitcha Man is further explored when Cody believes he sees him in a dream-like state putting the Donkey-Engine back into the lake. The Kurdaitcha Man is seen as an older Aboriginee man with the feather shoes.
The film ends with the mystery unfolded and Cody alongside his friends safe and sound with the Kurdaitcha Man and Donkegin still 'living' and active in their minds.
1986 in film
-Events:*April 12 - Actor Morgan Mason marries The Go-Go's Belinda Carlisle.*April 26 - Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger marries television journalist Maria Shriver.*May - Actress Heather Locklear marries Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee....
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Henry Thomas
Henry Thomas
Henry Jackson Thomas, Jr. is an American actor and musician. He has appeared in more than 40 films and is best known for his role as Elliott in the 1982 Steven Spielberg film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.-Early life:...
.
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
the film was named 'The Quest'. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it was named 'The Go-Kids'.
Scenes from the movie were filmed at the former quarry site of Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve
Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve
The Moorooduc Quarry Flora and Fauna Reserve is located in Mount Eliza, Victoria, Australia and occupies approximately 27 hectares of land. There are entrances to the reserve located on Allison Road, Canadian Bay Road, Two Bays Road and Station Street near the Moorooduc Railway...
located in Mount Eliza, Victoria
Mount Eliza, Victoria
Mount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
.
Synopsis
An AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
boy, Cody (Thomas), whose parents have died, lives in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with his guardian, Gaza. Cody is very imaginative, inventive, and inquisitive. He comes across some strange events happening in Devil's Knob national park associated with an Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
myth about "frog Dreamings" and bunyip
Bunyip
The bunyip, or kianpraty, is a large mythical creature from Aboriginal mythology, said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, creeks, riverbeds, and waterholes....
s. Cody tries to investigate. The occurrences revolve around a small lake where a monster the locals call "Donkegin" supposedly lives. Another myth explored by the children is the story of the Kurdaitcha
Kurdaitcha
Kurdaitcha is a ritual "executioner" in Australian Aboriginal culture. The word is from the Arrernte people and specifically refers to the shoes worn by the man, woven of feathers and human hair and treated with blood...
Man who acts as a sort of Australian version of the Boogey Man as well as a supernatural judge who deals out punishment. The children are told that he punishes any wrongs done according to the laws of the ancient Aboriginees including harm to one another, murder of animals without need for food, and destroying the environment (his appearance being most notable according to myth when white men came). The Kurdaitcha Man supposedly wanders the countryside, specifically at night, and wears shoes made of Emu feathers in order to cover any tracks.
With incidents at the lake increasing, Cody fashions a makeshift diving suit and goes into the lake to search, but he never comes back up. Thinking that he has drowned, the townsfolk drain the lake to recover his body. But what they really find is shocking...
The townspeople find that Cody is trapped inside Donkegin, who raises its head and begins to let out an unusual cry. The cry is reminiscent of old, rusted metal. One of the officials recognizes the shape as lights penetrate the greenery that is covering Donkegin and giving it its monstrous appearance.
They discover that Donkegin is in fact an old Donkey engine or a type of excavator
Excavator
Excavators are heavy construction equipment consisting of a boom, stick, bucket and cab on a rotating platform . The house sits atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels. A cable-operated excavator uses winches and steel ropes to accomplish the movements. They are a natural progression from the...
or steam-shovel used in construction work years ago. It is also revealed that several other items have accumulated at the bottom of the lake including a car and a bicycle. The locals manage to get Cody out and to safety and dispel the myth of the monster in the lake. The myth of the Kurdaitcha Man is further explored when Cody believes he sees him in a dream-like state putting the Donkey-Engine back into the lake. The Kurdaitcha Man is seen as an older Aboriginee man with the feather shoes.
The film ends with the mystery unfolded and Cody alongside his friends safe and sound with the Kurdaitcha Man and Donkegin still 'living' and active in their minds.