Walkabout (1971)

Two young children are stranded in the Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own. They meet an Aborigine on "walkabout": a ritualistic separation from his tribe.

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Edward Bond, James Vance Marshall (novel)

Stars:

Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg, David Gulpilil

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jenny Agutter	...	Girl
Luc Roeg	...	White Boy (as Lucien John)
David Gulpilil	...	Black Boy (as David Gumpilil)
John Meillon	...	Man
Robert McDarra	...	Man (as Robert McDara)
Peter Carver	...	No Hoper (as Pete Carver)
John Illingsworth	...	Young Man
Hilary Bamberger	...	Woman
Barry Donnelly	...	Australian Scientist
Noeline Brown	...	German Scientist (as Noelene Brown)
Carlo Manchini	...	Italian Scientist

Storyline

Two young children are stranded in the Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own. They meet an Aborigine on "walkabout": a ritualistic separation from his tribe.

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Plot Keywords:

tribe | walkabout | australian outback | fly | snake | 

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Taglines:

Just about the most different film you'll ever see

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Czech Aboriginal

Release Date:

1 July 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Longa Caminhada

Filming Locations:

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

AUD 1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Si Litvinoff Film Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 100 min (1997 reissue) 95 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jenny Agutter was embarrassed when doing the scene of her swimming naked in the lake, so as many as possible of the crew were sent away. When shooting was done they returned, stripped naked, and went for a swim.

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Goofs

The girl asks to be taken to the city of Adelaide, the children's destination in the novel. However, the city shown at the start and end of the film is clearly Sydney, which is several thousand kilometers (and two states) away from Adelaide.

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Quotes

The Girl: I expect we're the first white people he's seen.

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Crazy Credits

Opening caption: "In Australia when an Aborigine man-child reaches sixteen, he is sent out into the land. For months he must live from it. Sleep on it. Eat of its fruit and flesh. Stay alive. Even if it means killing his fellow creatures. The Aborigines call it the Walkabout. This is the story of a Walkabout."

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Connections

Featured in Gulpilil: One Red Blood (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Gasoline Alley"
Rod Stewart

User Reviews

The Australian outback comes alive.

Superb cinematography, the Australian outback comes alive in this film of self discovery and regret. Agutter plays the English girl brilliantly, incapable of comprehending anybody or anything that doesn't conform to her middle-class values and upbringing. Roeg is also excellent as her brother, adapting to each and every change in circumstance as only children can. I have watched this movie many times, and always get something new from it. Highly recommended to anyone, although parents might want to watch it before letting their kids see it.