BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE

THREE AND A HALF STARS A warm, witty tribute to one of the Antipode's warmest and wittiest satirists, John Clarke.

DOCUMENTARY AUSTRALIA English #BUTALSOJOHNCLARKE Starring John Clarke, Sam Neill

There’s a moment in BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE when Clarke pauses mid-sentence, eyes twinkling, as if he’s found a thought too good to rush. It’s a reminder of why he was so loved – the sharp mind, the deliberate pace, and the effortless knack for exposing absurdity without ever raising his voice.

This affectionate documentary is both a celebration and a farewell. Drawing on rare archival material, interviews with family, friends, and collaborators, it paints a full portrait of Clarke: the laconic Kiwi who became an Australian treasure, the wordsmith who could dismantle a politician’s argument in two razor-edged sentences, the collaborator whose partnership with Bryan Dawe redefined TV satire.

In the director’s seat, Clarke’s daughter Lorin uses a wealth of home videos (turns out her father was a busy documentarian in his own right) cut with his TV work and a raft of celebrity talking heads. Despite her close relationship, she wisely avoids the temptation to sanctify her father. His sharpness is intact, the laughs are plentiful, and the editing ensures that the rhythms of his humour remain unbroken. 

Clark’es film balances the personal with the professional – childhood in New Zealand, her father’s explosive fame as cultural skewer Fred Dagg, his migration across the Tasman to extract himself from that fame, and the decades of pointed commentary that followed.

It’s clear that those who knew him respected more than his talent. Jana Wendt, Ben Elton, David Wenham and Sam Neill among others all speak of generosity, of a commitment to craft, of a man who valued the truth even as he dressed it in wit. Clarke’s passing in 2017 left a hole in the national conversation; this film reminds us of the intelligence and kindness that filled it.

There’s joy here – in the clips, the conversations, and the quiet moments. He was the 'kick in the head we all needed' and by the end, you’ll be laughing, nodding, and perhaps a little misty-eyed in agreement. BUT ALSO JOHN CLARKE isn’t just a documentary about a satirist. It’s a tribute to a man who helped us understand ourselves, one perfectly chosen word at a time.

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