Don's Party (film)

Don's Party is a 1976 Australian comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford. It is based on the play of the same name by David Williamson, who also wrote the screenplay.

The film depicts a boisterous election night party held in suburban Melbourne on the evening of the 1969 Australian federal election. The party is hosted by Don Henderson, a disillusioned university lecturer, and his wife Kath. Attending are a collection of their friends, neighbours, and acquaintances, each with their own personal and marital issues.

As the night progresses, fueled by alcohol and political passions, the atmosphere becomes increasingly raucous and tensions rise. Relationships are tested, secrets are revealed, and inhibitions are shed. The unfolding election results provide a backdrop to the characters' personal dramas, highlighting the sense of social and political change occurring in Australia at the time.

The film satirizes suburban Australian life, the clash of intellectual and working-class values, and the complexities of human relationships. Its frank portrayal of sex, drinking, and social awkwardness made it controversial at the time of its release, but it is now considered a classic of Australian cinema. The film features a cast including John Hargreaves, Ray Barrett, Jeanie Drynan, Pat Bishop, Graham Kennedy, and Clare Binney.