The Family
“Inside one of Australia's most notorious cults”
Synopsis
Anne Hamilton-Byrne was beautiful, charismatic and delusional. She was also incredibly dangerous. Convinced she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, Hamilton-Byrne headed an apocalyptic sect called The Family, which was prominent in Melbourne from the 1960s through to the 1990s. With her husband Bill, she acquired numerous children – some through adoption scams, some born to cult members – and raised them as her own. Isolated from the outside world, the children were dressed in matching outfits, had identical dyed blonde hair, and were allegedly beaten, starved and injected with LSD. Taught that Hamilton-Byrne was both their mother and the messiah, the children were eventually rescued during a police raid in 1987, but their trauma had only just begun.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Family - Documentary - Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-05-25
Top Cast
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Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Rosie Jones
- Screenplay & Story
- Rosie Jones
- Original Title
- The Family
- Country of Origin
- Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 38m
- Production Studios
- Dogwoof, Big Stories, Film Victoria, Screen Australia, BBC
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Rosie Jones
Rosie Jones
Jaems Grant
Jane Usher
Anna Grieve, Barbara Ghammashi
Department Leadership Roster
Rosie Jones
Director
Rosie Jones
Writer
Anna Grieve
Producer
Jane Usher
Editor
Jaems Grant
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Production Stills & Gallery
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Family
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Family about?
Anne Hamilton-Byrne was beautiful, charismatic and delusional. She was also incredibly dangerous. Convinced she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, Hamilton-Byrne headed an apocalyptic sect called The Family, which was prominent in Melbourne from the 1960s through to the 1990s. With her husband Bill, she acquired numerous children – some through adoption scams, some born to cult members – and raised them as her own. Isolated from the outside world, the children were dressed in matching outfits, had identical dyed blonde hair, and were allegedly beaten, starved and injected with LSD. Taught that Hamilton-Byrne was both their mother and the messiah, the children were eventually rescued during a police raid in 1987, but their trauma had only just begun.
Who directed The Family?
The Family was directed by Rosie Jones.
Who stars in The Family?
The principal cast of The Family includes Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Anne Hamilton-Byrne, Bill Hamilton-Byrne, Lex De Man.
When was The Family released and how long is it?
The Family was released in 2016 with a total runtime of 1h 38m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Family?
The Family holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.).