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Vale: Sarah Watt

Writer, director and artist Sarah Watt died on Friday after a long battle with cancer, aged 53.

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Writer, director and artist Sarah Watt died on Friday after a long battle with cancer, aged 53.

Watt, the wife of actor William McInnes, directed the films Look Both Ways and My Year Without Sex, which screened on SBS last night, plus many short films.

A death notice from the family in The Age said Watts ”died peacefully at home filled with the love she gave to those who adored her – her family. A life of courage humour, intelligence, generosity, honesty and grace.”

Look Both Ways won her best film, director and original screenplay at the AFI Awards as well as the Discovery Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was recently highlighted by Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton amongst their favourite three Australian films.

”When I go to see films or look at paintings, I want to be moved, and that usually comes from something personal in the artist,” Watt once said. ”So that’s why I raid my own life a bit to make films.”

Just five weeks ago, Watt told Woman’s Day magazine that she had been taking life one challenge at a time since being diagnosed in 2009.

“I hope when my time comes I’ll be at home. William will be there and offer me a cup of tea, and when he’s making it I will drift off into a nap, then into the longest nap. And William will bring the tea back and it won’t be sad.”

Even after being diagnosed with secondary bone cancer two years ago, she continued her creative work. This year, she was on the jury at the Sydney Film Festival, released the memoir Worse Things Happen at Sea.

The Australian Film Institute was among scores of organisations and fans leaving tributes to her on social networking sites last night.

Watts is survived by McInnes and her two children Clem, 18, and Stella, 13.

An exhibition of  her artwork is currently on display at the Post Industrial Design in Footscray West. Titled 3012.

UPDATED: The Australian Directors Guild has also expressed its condolences:

“It is with a sad and heavy heart that the ADG pays tribute to the life of Sarah Watt, who passed away on November 4th. Sarah had been an active member of the ADG and we are very sad to lose one of our shining lights.

“Sarah achieved wide success with her feature films Look Both Ways and My Year without Sex, but her unique story telling abilities were clearly evident in the animation films she made throughout her life. Her stories captured so many moments of pleasure and pain, of humour and tragedy, that reached out and touched many many Australians during her screen career.”

ABC2 will screen Look Both Ways and 3 Sarah Watt shorts this Saturday night.

Source: The Age, Courier Mail

16 Responses

  2. Sarah Watt was a true artist – brave, talented, fearless and full of grace. Her work speaks for itself. I was so sad to read the feature piece in the Age (and I suspect the SMH) that more or less said she was near the end, but i wondered how near.
    Her life had significant meaning and integrity, and her family must be underneath devastated grief right now. I wish William and the family the very best.

  3. What a great artist. I watched her film “My Year Without Sex” only the other night and it was really enjoyable. This is a great loss. I must see her other film too – “Look Both Ways”. It looks excelent and combines her filmmaking and animation. I wish her family the best.

  6. Sympathies to William and her children. William was on the circle a few weeks ago discussing the book and his wifes journey.

    But Im glad her wish was granted and she was able to slip away at her home with her family with her.

  7. I enjoyed “My Year Without Sex” last night (on TV, Burt) but hadn’t realised that Sarah had passed just the day before. Makes it just that little bit more poignant. My condolences to William and family.

  8. This is so sad – too many great men and women have been taken by this horrible disease. Condolences to her family and friends. I’m glad she got to go in the way she wanted.

  9. A woman passed away. She was part of the Australian film And television community. Her husband has been part of some of the biggest Australian tv shows ever (notably Blue Heelers and currently the narrator of Thr Slap). It Is relevant news.

    An amazing woman, an amazing talent, so sadly leaving behind a beautiful family. She was always devoted to the Australian industry. Vale, RIP

  11. This is so very sad. I also watched My Year Without Sex last night, unaware that it was directed by Sarah, and enjoyed it very much. My condolences to Willam and family.

    @ Burt, given that Sarah is the wife of a TV & Film actor, I think it is very much TV News.

  12. I watched My Year Without Sex last night for the first time without being aware of this sad news. It was a very enjoyable low budget Aust movie. My regards to her family.

  13. This is such a beautiful, heartbreaking story, I read that interview in Womans Day, Sarah had such grace in her acceptance, that family will carry on as a result of her and William’s beauty in courage and inner peace.
    The Cancer beat her, but it didn’t win.
    R.I.P. Sarah, love and golden light to her family.

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