Peter Weir facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Weir AM
Weir in 2011
Born	Peter Lindsay Weir (1944-08-21) 21 August 1944 (age 80) Sydney, Australia
Occupation	Film director screenwriter producer
Years active	1967–2010
Spouse(s)	Wendy Stites ​ (m. 1966)​
Children	2
Signature

Peter Lindsay Weir (born 21 August 1944) is an Australian film director who is now retired. He is famous for directing many different types of movies over 40 years. Some of his well-known films include Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), Dead Poets Society (1989), and The Truman Show (1998).

Peter Weir has been nominated for six Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. In 2022, he received a special Academy Honorary Award for his amazing career. He also got a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival in 2024.

Early in his career, Weir was a key person in the Australian New Wave cinema movement. This was a time from the 1970s to 1990s when Australian films became very popular. His first full movie was Homesdale (1971). He then directed the mystery Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and the historical drama Gallipoli (1981). He became very successful with The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).

After this success, Weir directed many American and international films. Many of these movies were big hits at the box office. They included Oscar-nominated films like the thriller Witness (1985) and the drama Dead Poets Society (1989). His last movie before he retired was The Way Back (2010).

Early Life and Education

Peter Lindsay Weir was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1944. His father, Lindsay Weir, was a real estate agent. Peter went to The Scots College and Vaucluse Boys High School. Later, he studied arts and law at the University of Sydney.

He became interested in film after meeting other students. These included Phillip Noyce and future members of the Sydney filmmaking group Ubu Films.

Career Highlights

Starting in the 1960s

After university, Peter Weir worked at a TV station in Sydney. He was a production assistant for a comedy show called The Mavis Bramston Show. During this time, he made his first two short experimental films.

In 1969, Weir and his friend, composer Peter Best, were asked to create a TV show. This show, called Man on a Green Bike, was for ABC Television.

Films of the 1970s

Weir then worked for the Commonwealth Film Unit, making documentaries. One notable film was Whatever Happened to Green Valley. In this film, people from a Sydney suburb made their own film parts. He also directed a section of the film 3 to Go (1970), which won an award.

After leaving the Film Unit, Weir made his first independent film, Homesdale (1971). This was a unique black comedy.

His first full-length movie was The Cars That Ate Paris (1974). This was a low-budget black comedy about a town where people caused car crashes to make money. This film, and Homesdale, showed a common theme in Weir's movies. Many of his films are about people facing problems when they are separated from society. This separation can be physical, social, or psychological.

Weir's big breakthrough was the beautiful mystery film Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). This movie was made with help from the South Australian Film Corporation. It tells the story of girls who mysteriously disappear from a school picnic in 1900. This film was very important for the "Australian film renaissance" of the 1970s. It was praised by critics and released internationally.

Weir's next film was The Last Wave (1977). This was a supernatural thriller starring American actor Richard Chamberlain. The movie explored how native Aboriginal and European cultures interact. It also starred Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil.

Between films, Weir wrote and directed a TV movie called The Plumber (1979). It was a black comedy about a woman whose life is turned upside down by a plumber.

Success in the 1980s

Weir had a major hit with the historical drama Gallipoli (1981). This film helped make Mel Gibson a big star. Gallipoli is considered a classic of Australian cinema.

The peak of Weir's early career was The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). This film also starred Mel Gibson, along with Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver. It was about loyalty, love, and ambition during a time of trouble in Indonesia in 1965. Linda Hunt won an Oscar for her role in this film.

Weir on the set of Witness in 1984

Weir's first American film was the successful thriller Witness (1985). This was the first of two films he made with Harrison Ford. It's about a boy who sees a murder and is hidden in an Amish community for safety. Harrison Ford was nominated for an Oscar for his acting in Witness. The film also won two Oscars for editing and screenplay.

He then directed The Mosquito Coast (1986). In this film, Harrison Ford played a man who wants to start a new life in the Central American jungle. These films helped Harrison Ford show his ability to play different kinds of characters.

Weir's next film, Dead Poets Society, was a huge international success. Robin Williams played an inspiring teacher in a story about fitting in and standing out at a school in the 1950s. The film was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Weir. It won an Oscar for its original story and helped start the careers of young actors Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard. It is one of Weir's most famous films.

Movies of the 1990s

Weir's first romantic comedy was Green Card (1990). He chose French actor Gérard Depardieu for the main role, which was Depardieu's first English-speaking part. The film was a box-office hit. Weir was nominated for an Oscar for his original story.

Fearless (1993) explored deeper themes. It starred Jeff Bridges as a man who feels invincible after surviving a plane crash. The film was well-reviewed, especially the acting of Bridges and Rosie Perez, who was nominated for an Oscar.

After five years, Weir directed his biggest success, The Truman Show (1998). This fantasy-satire was about how the media controls life and starred Jim Carrey. The Truman Show was a hit with both audiences and critics. It received many awards, including three Oscar nominations: for its original story, for Ed Harris's acting, and for Weir as Best Director.

From 2000s to Retirement

In 2003, Weir returned to historical dramas with Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. This film starred Russell Crowe and was based on adventure books set during the Napoleonic Wars. It was well-received by critics and won two Oscars for cinematography and sound effects.

Weir worked on other projects in the 2000s that were not made into films.

In 2010, Weir released the historical epic The Way Back. This movie was about people escaping from a Soviet prison camp. It was generally well-received by critics.

In 2022, Peter Weir received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. During this time, he confirmed his retirement. He said that for film directors, there are three stages: active, dormant, and extinct. He felt he had reached the last stage. He enjoys visiting ancient ruins and battlefields in his retirement.

Personal Life

On 14 June 1982, Peter Weir was given the title of Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This was for his great contributions to the film industry.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

Oscar-Nominated Acting Performances in Weir's Films

See also

In Spanish: Peter Weir para niños