The Alice (film)

Plot

The approach of a solar eclipse has drawn various people from all directions to Alice Springs, an Australian town in the Northern Territory, nearby which is the best point for observation.

Toby Delaney and his partners are expecting a bus-load of German tourists, but a truck driver destroys their hotel. He improvises an 'adventurous bush trip' for them, even though he has no experience with 'bush foods'. He serves them Tim Tams, which he claims to be flavoured with Witchetty grubs.

Matt Marione, a medical student with an interest in botany, takes The Ghan from Adelaide, but leaves the train at an unscheduled stop to search for a rare outback plant. He is left behind when the train leaves, and survives only by the intervention of a mysterious Aboriginal elder who seemingly appears from nowhere and vanishes the same way. Toby Delaney eventually finds and rescues him.

Connor 'The Pelican' Gregory, a fanatic runner and hillclimber jogs all the way to the eclipse site, accompanied by Helen, his unenthusiastic wife and her grumpy friend in their motorhome. He is killed when he falls over a cliff. His wife is suspected of his murder by the local police, but nothing can be proven.

Former rock musician Jack Jaffers, who deserted his band's reunion to revisit the hotel where they had their first successful gig, joins them. He is so mesmerised by the scene that he plans to buy land there and rebuild the hotel where they performed (which is now derelict).

Cast