Production begins today on “The Eye of the Storm”, the highly anticipated feature film based on the classic novel by Patrick White, with acclaimed director Fred Schepisi (“Six Degrees of Separation”, “Fierce Creatures”) at the helm.

“Storm” is Schepisi’s first Aussie movie since 1988′s “Evil Angels” (aka “A Cry in the Dark”) starring Meryl Streep and Sam Neill.

The film stars Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis and Charlotte Rampling. The stellar support cast features Colin Friels and Helen Morse, among others.

“It has been a while since I’ve filmed in Australia – but it’s been a matter of waiting for the right story to tell, with the right people. The script for The Eye of The Storm and the cast and crew are absolutely world class, so this is an incredibly exciting project to be making in this country and well worth the wait to work at home again,” said Fred Schepisi from Melbourne.

“The Eye of the Storm” is set in the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, where two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter (Charlotte Rampling) as her expatriate son (Geoffrey Rush) and daughter (Judy Davis) convene at her deathbed. But, in dying, as in living, Mrs. Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her. Based on Patrick White’s Nobel Prize winning novel, the film is a savage exploration of family relationships – and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy, which define them.

Principally shot in Melbourne, parts of the film will also be filmed in Sydney and far north Queensland.

The script is written by Judy Morris (”Babe: Pig in the City”, ”Happy Feet”).

THE EYE OF THE STORM is expected to release internationally in 2011.