The Floating Brothel (2006), Directed by Mark Lewis

Free, bookings essential
Classified M
Film duration: 55 mins

The Floating Brothel is a dramatised documentary based on the book of the same name by Siân Rees (Hodder, Sydney, 2001). It tells the story of the Lady Juliana, one of the ships of the Second Fleet. Three modern-day Australians discover stories of their ancestors as the film reveals the background of the female convicts who were on the ship, the nature of their crimes, the society in which they committed those crimes, the hardships and surprising benefits of their voyage to Australia, and their impact on a new society.

The Floating Brothel is screened in connection with the exhibition, A Century of Quilts, which features exceptional examples of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Australian quilts, including The Rajah Quilt (1841) created by the unidentified women of the convict ship, HMS Rajah. Presenting a rare opportunity to see a historically and artistically significant group of works, A Century of Quilts showcases an often-overlooked art form made almost exclusively by women.

Before the film, the exhibition curator, Simeran Maxwell (Associate Curator, Australian Art) will provide a brief introduction to the exhibition and The Rajah Quilt.

A Century of Quilts is on display from 16 Mar – 25 Aug 2024.

Art Meets Film is a free program of film screenings presented in partnership by the National Gallery of Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.