MIFF Interview: Lorin Clarke on sharing her dad with the world in But Also John Clarke

'The front fell off.' The 94 metre 100 metre track. Fred Dagg. 24 years of political satire with Bryan Dawe. These are just a handful of the impactful comedic works from the one and only John Clarke.

For over 40 years, John Clarke brought an unparalleled level of wit, politically astute comedic understanding, and pitch perfect timing to Australian and New Zealand audiences. John Clarke's work as a comedian wasn't just to entertain, but to also make audiences sit and think. Whether it be utilising the landmark comedy series The Games as a way of presenting an apology to the Stolen Generation of Australia, or by calling out the hypocrisy of the colonial state we live in, John Clarke utilised his comedic genius to masterful effect.

In 2017, the world lost John Clarke, and Lorin Clarke lost her father.

Now, after having explored over 200 boxes of John Clarke's work and letters, having written about book about her relationship with her dad, and having interviewed countless fellow comedic masters like Sam Neill, Rhys Darby, and Ben Elton, Lorin has crafted a documentary about her dad called But Also John Clarke.

It's just about one of the most enriching and delightful experiences you'll have this year, even if you're not familiar with John Clarke's work - and I kind of almost envy you if you aren't, as you've got decades of work to be entertained by. For a film that could quite easily have become a hagiography or a maudlin experience, Lorin manages to balance the film with a delightful level of charm and compassion. Compassion not only for the loss of her father, but also for the audience who loved him, her mother, and most importantly, herself.

In the following interview, recorded ahead of But Also John Clarke's world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival, Lorin talks about getting the balance right for a film like this, while also touching on the process she undertook to be vulnerable this way.

I had an absolute blast and shed more than a few tears watching But Also John Clarke, as I'm sure you will too.

It screens at MIFF from 15 August to 24 August, with select Q&A sessions with Lorin in attendance. To buy tickets, visit MIFF.com.au.

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