The Family (2016)

Inside one of Australia's most notorious cults

The Family (2016) poster

Anne Hamilton-Byrne was beautiful, charismatic and delusional. She was also incredibly dangerous. Convinced she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, Hamilton-Byrne headed an apocalyptic sect called The Family, which was prominent in Melbourne from the 1960s through to the 1990s. With her husband Bill, she acquired numerous children – some through adoption scams, some born to cult members – and raised them as her own. Isolated from the outside world, the children were dressed in matching outfits, had identical dyed blonde hair, and were allegedly beaten, starved and injected with LSD. Taught that Hamilton-Byrne was both their mother and the messiah, the children were eventually rescued during a police raid in 1987, but their trauma had only just begun.

Director: Rosie Jones
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 98 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: Jaems Grant
Editing: Jane Usher
Production: Dogwoof, Big Stories, Film Victoria, Screen Australia, BBC
Country: Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

australia, child abuse, investigation, manipulation, lsd, religious cult, stolen child, drug, santiniketan park association

Trailer

The Family Trailer
More Films by Director: Rosie Jones
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Family about?
Anne Hamilton-Byrne was beautiful, charismatic and delusional. She was also incredibly dangerous. Convinced she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, Hamilton-Byrne headed an apocalyptic sect called The Family, which was prominent in Melbourne from the 1960s through to the 1990s. With her husband Bill, she acquired numerous children – some through adoption scams, some born to cult members – and raised them as her own. Isolated from the outside world, the children were dressed in matching outfits, had identical dyed blonde hair, and were allegedly beaten, starved and injected with LSD. Taught that Hamilton-Byrne was both their mother and the messiah, the children were eventually rescued during a police raid in 1987, but their trauma had only just begun.
Who directed The Family?
The Family was directed by Rosie Jones.
Who stars in The Family?
The Family stars Jordan Fraser-Trumble, Anne Hamilton-Byrne, Bill Hamilton-Byrne, Lex De Man.
How long is The Family?
The Family has a runtime of 1h 38m (98 minutes).
What genre is The Family?
The Family is a Documentary film.
Where was The Family produced?
The Family was produced in Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom.