Celia

Celia

Year: 1989

Runtime: 103 mins

Language: English

Director: Ann Turner

HorrorDramaFantasy

Set in rural Australia, the film follows an imaginative yet troubled young girl whose vivid fantasies about evil creatures and oddities serve as a shield for her deep insecurities. As she navigates the challenges of growing up, her innocence is gradually corrupted by the darkness of her inner world.

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Timeline & Setting – Celia (1989)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Celia (1989). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1957

The events unfold in 1957 Australia, a period of conservative social norms and post-war tension. Suburban life centers on family authority, church sermons, and debates about political beliefs, including the Tanners' Communist connections. Government actions, such as the rabbit ban, highlight a broader climate of regulation shaping everyday life.

Location

Box Hill, Victoria, Rock Quarry, Victoria, Sydney, New South Wales, Melbourne Zoo

Box Hill is a quiet Melbourne suburb in Victoria, providing the domestic backdrop for Celia Carmichael's childhood. The story moves from the Carmichael home to the Tanner family's rock quarry adventures and the local church, reflecting a tightly-knit yet suspicious community. The setting broadens to Sydney as Evan and his family relocate, and to the Melbourne Zoo where pet rabbits are eventually reclaimed under government policy.

🗺️ Suburban Melbourne setting 🕰️ 1950s era 🐾 Pet policy & local life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:35

Main Characters – Celia (1989)

Meet the key characters of Celia (1989), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Celia Carmichael — Rebecca Smart

An imaginative eight-year-old coping with her grandmother's death, Celia experiences disturbing visions of the blue Hobyah and endures bullying at school. She befriends the Tanner children but is drawn into their ritualistic games and acts of rebellion, culminating in a drastic act of self-protection.

🧒 Child Protagonist 💭 Imaginative 🧠 Trauma

Pat Carmichael — Mary-Anne Fahey

Celia's mother, a stabilizing presence who comforts Celia after the grandmother's death and tries to shield her from conflict. She negotiates the tension with Burke and keeps the family together while grappling with the community's suspicions.

👩 Mother 🛡️ Protector

Ray Carmichael — Nicholas Eadie

Celia's father, a stern man who distrusts the Tanner neighbors for their Communist beliefs. His anger and strict discipline fuel family strain, and his disclosure about the Tanners leads to renewed tension and a confrontation with Burke.

👨 Father 🧭 Conservative

Alice Tanner — Victoria Longley

Celia's next-door neighbor and friend in the Tanner family circle. She embodies warmth and courage amid family disputes, sharing in games and the children’s imaginative rituals while navigating the political tensions around them.

👧 Neighbor 🤝 Friend

Evan Tanner — Martin Sharman

Alice's father and a worker who loses his job after his political beliefs are exposed. The family relocates to Sydney in search of employment, illustrating the economic pressures behind political and social strife.

🧑‍🏭 Father 💼 Struggler

Stephanie Burke — Amelia Frid

Celia's bully cousin who steals family heirlooms and leads her gang in pranks and aggression. Her actions escalate the feud between the Carmichaels and the Tanners, amplifying the cycle of revenge and fear.

👧 Bully 🥊 Rival

Inspector John Burke — William Zappa

The local sergeant who enforces rules with a harsh, punitive edge. He confiscates pets like Murgatroyd and becomes a looming authority figure in Celia’s world, ultimately becoming a focal point of the girls' dangerous plan.

👮 Authority ⚖️ Enforcer

Heather Goldman — Clair Couttie

A friend within Celia's circle, involved in the girls' schemes and the dynamics of friendship and loyalty amid family and political strife. She participates in the community’s ritualistic games and mischief.

👧 Friend 🧩 Ally

Grandmother — Margaret Ricketts

Celia's grandmother, a guiding memory who appears in Celia's nightmares and visions. Her death triggers Celia's fear and imaginative responses, planting seeds for the Hobyah myth that haunts the child.

👵 Grandparent 🕊️ Guiding Spirit

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:35

Major Themes – Celia (1989)

Explore the central themes of Celia (1989), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Paranoia & Politics

The film centers on fear of political others, as Celia's world is shadowed by suspicions of Communist ties within the Tanner family. Church sermons and local gossip frame politics as a threat to social harmony. The tension between domestic life and perceived subversion drives conflict and motivates actions against individuals deemed dangerous.

💭 Grief & Imagination

Celia's grandmother's death haunts her, sparking visions of monsters like the Hobyah that blur reality and fantasy. Imagination becomes a coping mechanism for fear, bullying, and loss, shaping how she interprets danger. These inner visions influence her choices and interactions with friends and family.

👪 Family Authority

The film portrays a tense dynamic between parental authority and peer influence. Ray's suspicion of the Tanners and Burke's policing create a climate of vigilance and punishment, while Pat strives to protect Celia. The narrative examines how power within the family and neighborhood can escalate conflict and shape a child's sense of safety.

🐰 Rabbit & Freedom

Murgatroyd the rabbit symbolizes innocence and family attachment amid external control. Government policy banning rabbits as pets and the later petition to permit ownership reflect how ordinary life is affected by public regulation. The quest to reclaim pet rabbits and the children’s actions around them reveal competing desires for freedom and safety.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:35

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Celia Summary

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Celia Summary

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More About Celia

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