Australia -ABC Sun 8:30

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Fri January 23rd, 2009, 3:53 am

The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce

In 1822, eight men escaped from the most isolated and brutal prison on earth - Sarah Island in Van Diemen's Land. Only one man survived and his tale of betrayal, murder and cannibalism shocked the British establishment to the core. This program follows the final days of Irish convict Alexander Pearce's life as he awaits execution. The year is 1824 and the British penal colony of Van Diemen's Land is little more than a living hell. During his six months incarcerated in the Hobart gaol, chained to a wall in the darkness of a cell, Pearce is visited by Father Philip Conolly, the parish priest of the fledgling colony and a fellow Irishman. Conolly's faith in his God is tested by what he hears. Told as a factual drama, The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce draws a visceral and compelling picture of hell on earth and tells how one man endured the unimaginable by doing the unthinkable.

Looks interesting! I have read about Pearce in For the Term of His Natural Life and Fatal Shore.

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Fri January 23rd, 2009, 10:40 pm

Sounds like it could be interesting.

Thanks for the heads up!

Melisende · Post by **Melisende** » Sat January 24th, 2009, 11:35 pm

There's a movie out based - somewhat - on this.

Scene: bushwalkers lost in Tasmanian wilderness, stories of Pearce abound, cannabalism, horror, who gets out alive .... you know the type of thing.

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Sun January 25th, 2009, 12:43 am

Is that the one with Guy Pearce?

diamondlil · Post by **diamondlil** » Mon January 26th, 2009, 11:54 am

I was very excitedly talking about this with my guests tonight, about how I wanted to watch it, until I suddenly realised that it is actually Monday today and I had missed it!

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Mon January 26th, 2009, 9:23 pm

I have recorded it. Will hopefully get to watch it sometime soon!