IMDb 5.8 1973 HD

Lost in the Bush

Lost in the Bush

1973
Adventure Drama Family
64 min NR USA
4.5 / 10
5.8 IMDB

The film re-enacts the true story of three children, Jane Duff, aged seven, her brothers Isaac (9) and Frank (4), who in 1864 went missing from their bark-roofed…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Peter Dodds
Starring
Gabrielle Bulle / Colin Freckleton / Richard McLelland / Adrian Crick

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

harrowing resilient authentic stark poignant challenging survival historical vulnerable isolated earnest

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 25, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Lost in the Bush' offers a dramatised account of a significant historical event: the 1864 vanishing of the Duff children in Victoria. The film's focus on the true story is its primary draw, and the young actors involved…

A
Arthur Finch
May 25, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A deeply affecting piece of Australian cinema, 'Lost in the Bush' (1973) meticulously re-enacts the true story of the Duff children's 1864 disappearance. The film's power stems from its earnest portrayal of a harrowing event, allowing the performances…

P
Penelope Croft
May 25, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

The 1973 film 'Lost in the Bush' attempts to capture the harrowing true story of three children lost in the Victorian wilderness. It succeeds in presenting the stark reality of their 1864 disappearance, with the young actors conveying…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 25, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Lost in the Bush' is a powerful, unflinching look at a real-life tragedy that unfolded in Victoria's Wimmera region. The film's strength lies in its commitment to the true story of the Duff siblings, bringing their 1864 plight…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 25, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1973 dramatisation of the Duff children's ordeal offers a stark portrayal of survival against the odds. The performances, particularly from the young cast, lend an authentic vulnerability to the re-enactment of their 1864 disappearance. The film captures…

FAQs

Yes, 'Lost in the Bush' is based on a true story. It re-enacts the real-life disappearance of three children – Jane, Isaac, and Frank Duff – in 1864. They went missing from their home in the Wimmera region of Victoria, west of Natimuk and Horsham. This dramatisation brings a significant historical episode of Australian pioneering life and child survival to the screen.