But Also John Clarke

When satirist John Clarke died in 2017, the world mourned an icon. A defining comedic voice who wrote and appeared in numerous films and TV productions, and who – in a beloved double act with Bryan Dawe – skewered political hypocrisy for almost 30 years on current affairs shows, he gave away very little about his own life. At home, by contrast, he was an open book.

Through a remarkable series of recorded conversations between John and his daughter, writer/director Lorin Clarke, we trace his steadfast resistance to authority back to his childhood; unpack his controversial decision to leave New Zealand for Australia in 1977; and gain delightful insights into his forty years in the entertainment industry.

Weaving together personal anecdotes, a rich television archive, tales from international comedy greats and the riches from more than 200 boxes of his work and letters, this film is a daughter gifting her father back to the audience.

FESTIVALS
OFFICIAL SELECTION | Melbourne International Film Festival 2025

Screening September 4 at Luna Leederville