Bliss (1985) starring Barry Otto, Gia Carides, Ray Lawrence

Bliss is a 1985 Australian film directed by Ray Lawrence, co-adapted by Lawrence and Peter Carey, author of the original novel from which it is adapted.It starred Barry Otto, who was a that time best known in Sydney for his theatre work, and Lynette Curran, a veteran star of Australian stage, TV and film and a former co-star of the popular ABC soap opera Bellbird. Notable among the supporting roles is an early film appearance by Gia Carides (wife of actor Anthony La Paglia) and an early cameo role by John Doyle (better known as Rampaging Roy Slaven of This Sporting Life fame.After a rocky start—400 of the 2000-strong audience walked out during its first screening at the 1985 Cannes Film Festival -- the film went on to receive multiple awards at the AFI awards.Harry Joy, an advertising executive in an unnamed Australian city who is known for his ability to tell stories, has a terrifying near-death experience after suffering a massive heart attack, brought on by his dissolute lifestyle. Upon recovering, he believes himself to be either in a hellish version of the world he knew, or with his eyes opened to an altogether different view of that world. He eventually discovers that his