Legendary film critic David Stratton has been remembered for his “incredible insight”, “humility” and “deep love of cinema” in tributes following his death at age 85.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Stratton had shared his love of cinema with the entire nation while co-hosting the television programs The Movie Show and At The Movies with fellow critic Margaret Pomeranz.
“All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on,” Albanese said in a statement.
“We loved his wit and his sharp insight, and the deep love of cinema that underpinned it all. And in his chemistry with Margaret Pomeranz, he helped deliver one of Australia’s truly great TV partnerships.”
The minister for the arts, Tony Burke, said he was deeply saddened by Stratton’s death and that “his love of film shone through” during this life.
“You would see a movie because David told you to. Countless stories reached countless Australians because of David,” Burke said.
“We saw more, learned more, felt more, laughed more and cried more because David shared his love of screen with us.”
The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, said Stratton had made an enormous contribution to the public broadcaster during his decades on screen.
“Incredible insight, a love of the craft of moviemaking and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry,” Marks said. “We are thinking of his family and friends at this time.”
SBS managing director, James Taylor, said the broadcaster was “deeply saddened” by Stratton’s death and credited his work cohosting The Movie Show between 1986 and 2004 for “introducing generations of viewers to cinema from Australia and around the world. His legacy endures in every thoughtful review and every inspired viewer”.
Rachel Griffiths told the ABC that Stratton was a “a champion of Australian stories”.
“He was gentle in manner and had a curiosity that I’ve found rare in my career,” the actor said. “Most notably, he was humble – never putting himself as the overlord of the creative – but as a servant to creativity.
“He had an ear for truth and a love for the human, and knew almost instantly when a new talent had announced itself.”
The Melbourne International film festival said Stratton’s “deep passion for cinema and his lifelong commitment to championing Australian film brought countless stories to audiences and inspired generations”.
The Sydney film festival said Stratton’s achievements were “too innumerable to list in totality” but would include “his successful fight against censorship of films in Australia”. It also praised his “support for emerging film-makers from Australia and around the world” and for “fostering of a brave and adventurous cinema culture in Australian audiences”.
In a statement, Screen Australia said Stratton was “a champion of Australian voices and stories on screen”.
“His passion for cinema and support for the local screen industry will be long felt and never forgotten, the statement said.
