Cactus (1986 film)

Cactus is a 1986 Australian drama film directed by Paul Cox and starring Isabelle Huppert.

Cast

 * Isabelle Huppert as Colo
 * Robert Menzies as Robert
 * Norman Kaye as Tom
 * Monica Maughan as Bea
 * Banduk Marika as Banduk
 * Sheila Florance as Martha
 * Peter Aanensen as George
 * Julia Blake as club speaker
 * Jean-Pierre Mignon as Jean-Francois
 * Ray Marshall as Kevin
 * Maurie Fields as Maurie
 * Sean Scully as doctor
 * Dawn Klingberg as pedestrian
 * Kyra Cox as sister
 * Tony Llewellyn-Jones as father

Production
The film was inspired by Paul Cox's memory of his mother temporarily going blind when he was a child. He worked on the story for a number of years, then decided he wanted to work with Isabelle Huppert and wrote the script with her in mind. Bob Ellis worked on the script but fought with Cox over the fact it was about a Frenchwoman staying in Australia, and the two men ended their collaboration.

Actors Equity objected to Huppert's importation but this was overruled.