We of the Never Never (1982)Director:Igor Auzins |
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We of the Never Never (1982)Director:Igor Auzins |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Angela Punch McGregor | ... |
Jeannie Gunn
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Arthur Dignam | ... |
Aeneas Gunn
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Martin Vaughan | ... |
Dan
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Lewis Fitz-Gerald | ... |
Jack
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| John Jarratt | ... |
Dandy
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Tony Barry | ... |
Mac
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Tommy Lewis | ... |
Jackaroo
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Donald Blitner | ... |
Goggle Eye
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Mawuyul Yanthalawuy | ... |
Rosie
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Cecil Parkee | ... |
Cheon
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Sibina Willy | ... |
Bett Bett
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Tex Morton | ... |
Landlord
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Kim Chiu Kok | ... |
Sam Lee
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Brian Granrott | ... |
Neaves
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Danny Adcock | ... |
Brown
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We of the Never Never was a real surprise: sounding like one of a thousand other woman-making-her-way-on-the-frontier movies, albeit set in the Australian outback, it actually turns out to be a terrific piece of old-style epic film-making on a grand scale. The unexpected casting pays dividends: Angela Punch McGregor conveys just the right strength of character for someone simultaneously trying to fit in where she's not wanted and who is still open to what those around her have to offer, white or Aborigine, while Arthur Dignam's very unlikeliness as a cattle station manager works in his favour.
Gary Hansen's scope photography is truly breathtaking, and director Igor Auzin's mastery of the frame without losing sight of his characters is so impressive that you wonder why he only made one more feature. The 2.35:1 ratio is not just window dressing either: not only does it stress both the vastness and hard beauty of the place, but it also serves to highlight the marginalisation of the various characters by class, gender or race. Pretty terrific.