Watch The Witch of Kings Cross

The Witch of Kings Cross is a documentary film directed and produced by Sonia Bible, that delves into the life and art of the controversial Australian artist, Rosaleen Norton. The movie was released in 2020 and features interviews with people who knew or worked with Norton, as well as previously unreleased audio recordings and photos from her private archives.

Known as "the Witch of Kings Cross", Norton was a bohemian artist who lived in the gritty Sydney suburb of Kings Cross during the 1940s and 1950s. She was a pioneer of underground art and created scandal with her provocative paintings and drawings, often depicting sexually explicit and occult subjects. Her work was denounced by critics and religious leaders at the time, and she was repeatedly arrested and charged with obscenity.

The documentary explores Norton's unique worldview and artistic style, which were heavily influenced by her interest in the occult and spiritualism. In the film, we see Norton as a bold and independent woman who challenged the status quo in a deeply conservative society. We also learn about the friendship she had with the Australian writer, Norman Lindsay, who encouraged her to follow her artistic path despite the backlash from the public.

The documentary also touches on Norton's early life, describing her difficult childhood and the struggles she faced as a young woman in a male-dominated society. Through interviews with people who knew her, we get a sense of Norton's charismatic personality and her magnetic attraction to those around her.

One of the most interesting aspects of the documentary is the inclusion of Norton's voice, which we hear in previously unreleased audio recordings. In these recordings, Norton talks about her beliefs in the supernatural, her interest in the dark side of human nature, and her passion for art. These recordings provide a fascinating window into Norton's psyche and help us understand how her art was shaped by her unique perspective on life.

Throughout the documentary, we also get to see Norton's artwork in detail, with close-ups of her paintings and sketches. Her work is striking and often disturbing, depicting bizarre creatures and haunting landscapes that seem to come from another world. We learn about the symbolism in her art - the snakes, owls, and demons that populate her world - and how they reflect her spiritual beliefs.

The film also reveals the impact that Norton's work had on later generations of artists, including the Australian filmmaker George Gittoes, who appears in the movie. Gittoes talks about how Norton's art influenced his own work, and how he saw parallels between Norton's outsider status and his own experiences as a maverick artist.

Another fascinating character in the documentary is Eileen Kramer, a dancer who was a contemporary of Norton's and is still performing at the age of 105. Kramer provides a window into the bohemian world of Kings Cross during the mid-20th century, and we get a sense of how Norton's art was received during that time.

Overall, The Witch of Kings Cross is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the life and work of a unique and important Australian artist. Norton's story is one of courage, creativity, and rebellion, and her legacy continues to inspire artists today.

The Witch of Kings Cross is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.