In 1981, Australian director George Miller unleashed his growling, kinetic post-apocalyptic sequel to the his unground gear head hit Mad Max. The result was not only a thrilling action film with unparalleled stunts and mayhem, but a surprisingly affecting meditation on maintaining humanity in the face of barbarity. The film not only made Mel Gibson a world wide star, but also launched a new vision of the future, blasted by the heat of the Cold War, which was imitated in countless films for next four decades. Our panel will focus on Mad Max 2, its challenges and triumphs, its underlying philosophy and meaning, its reception in America and its VHS imitators, and its lasting effects on culture and filmmaking.
