An island off an island

8 MINUTES

Life on Bruny Island, population 750, is suffused with trade-offs and joys

Electricity is limited, entertainments like film screenings and restaurant meals are scarce, and all your neighbours are people you know and rely on – the prospect of living like this might be idyllic or distressing, depending on your disposition. But, for partners John Bullock and Jenene Oates, it’s simply home. This short documentary from the filmmaker Guido Pezz takes viewers into the couple’s life on Bruny Island, Australia, population 750, itself located just off the coast of Tasmania. Featuring lush shots of the landscape, and the couple engaged in unplugged activities of self-sufficiency like gardening, baking and pottery, the brief trip likely makes for a relaxing and worthwhile experience, even if their off-grid life isn’t quite for you.

Director: Guido Pezz

Explore more

Abstract drawing of a face with vibrant colours, featuring red cheeks and a patterned necklace on an orange background.
Psyche Exclusive

Born of memory and mystery – the otherworldly works of a self-taught, unhoused artist

Directed by Tal Amiran

Photo of a man holding a microphone and equipment standing on a walkway with blurred people passing by in the foreground.

Lonely in London, a filmmaker sets out to make a new friend

A film by Hugh Clegg

A naked young woman walking on a rippled sandy beach towards the sea, clear blue water and distant islands in view.
Psyche Exclusive

For Lucy, surviving on a remote island was hard, but returning was harder

Directed by Jesper Wachtmeister

A photo of an artist in a cap and paint-splattered trousers sitting next to a large painting of a man holding his face in his hands.

A rural Namibian artist reflects on authenticity in work and in life

Directed by Niklas von Klitzing and Leo Stolz

Puppets with monkey faces in office attire, performing a synchronised dance in a cubicle-filled office setting, with computers and office supplies visible.

Humanoid animals sing through their existential angst in this madcap short

Directed by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr

Black and white photo of three children standing outdoors under a cloudy sky. The boy on the left wears a flat cap and checked shirt with trousers, while the two girls on the right wear patterned headscarves and dresses, smiling and looking into the distance.

For Hutterites, ‘love thy neighbour’ is both gospel and practical necessity

Directed by Colin Low

Two puppets in silver spacesuits lie against a starry backdrop, surrounded by makeup items. One puppet has short black hair, the other has bright green hair.

Fatu treks into the glamorous unknown during his first outing in makeup

Directed by Iiti Yli-Harja

Abstract blue figures in a dark room; some sitting around tables with candles, others standing or sitting on a bar counter. The image signifies a lively, crowded bar during a power outage.

When the lights went out and the city came together over two days in Toronto

Directed by Sharron Mirsky