One of those films that initially seems quite simple but is actually very complex and asks many questions,Walkabout is a stunning piece of cinema. The actual plot is pretty straight forward and can be described in a sentence,but it deals with important issues and leaves the viewer to ponder on things. It also features some of the best photography {by it's director} ever,so that even if you're not interested in thinking and questioning what you have just seen,you can just sit back and let the images wash over you.
Indeed,many of the best sequences in the film emphasise image and music above dialogue,such as the {slightly controversial} scene where Jenny Agutter takes a nude swim in a lake,intercut with shots of the protagonists journey,while John Barry's simply heavenly theme plays {his score is one of his most evocative}.It's beautiful and soothing,and not gratuitous,Agutter's nudity is there to make a point,to empathise her character's sense of freedom,brief though it might be. The scene also contrasts the behaviour of the Aboriginal in the film {who despite being not 'civilised' goes nowhere near Agutter during her swim} with a group of male scientists in the desert {who ogle and leer at the one female around}
Other imagery in the film is more jarring,with the director Nicolas Roeg perhaps overdoing the amount of shots of slaughtered animals,and equally the use of sound is occasionally forced,such as the oft heard sound of a radio being tuned. One is sometimes unsure of what Roeg is trying to say.
However,the major themes of the film are unavoidable and pertinent. It contrasts 'civilisation' with 'savagery',and asks us to decide which is best. No Noble Savage clichés here,the harshness of the Aboriginals life {look at all the flies that buzz around him}is not avoided. There is the way that 'civilisation' encroaches on nature and often ends up just exploiting it. Perhaps however the film is more about communication between cultures,or lack of,and it ends up being very moving,a possible romance that doesn't happen because of simple lack of understanding,in fact Agutter doesn't really bother to communicate properly with the Aboriginal at all {but note how her young brother and the Aboriginal do understand each other}. The final scene is extremely sad and poignant,but watch it again and decide if it isn't just idealised memory rather than real memory. Even right at the end,Roeg gets us to think about what we are being shown.
The acting by the three leads is astonishing,especially by Lucien John {Roeg's son} as the young boy. Perhaps a few of Roeg's stylistic quirks may annoy,and it's certainly not a film for those after action.However,Walkabout is an fascinating and rewarding experience that will probably linger long in the memory long after many other films have faded.
Indeed,many of the best sequences in the film emphasise image and music above dialogue,such as the {slightly controversial} scene where Jenny Agutter takes a nude swim in a lake,intercut with shots of the protagonists journey,while John Barry's simply heavenly theme plays {his score is one of his most evocative}.It's beautiful and soothing,and not gratuitous,Agutter's nudity is there to make a point,to empathise her character's sense of freedom,brief though it might be. The scene also contrasts the behaviour of the Aboriginal in the film {who despite being not 'civilised' goes nowhere near Agutter during her swim} with a group of male scientists in the desert {who ogle and leer at the one female around}
Other imagery in the film is more jarring,with the director Nicolas Roeg perhaps overdoing the amount of shots of slaughtered animals,and equally the use of sound is occasionally forced,such as the oft heard sound of a radio being tuned. One is sometimes unsure of what Roeg is trying to say.
However,the major themes of the film are unavoidable and pertinent. It contrasts 'civilisation' with 'savagery',and asks us to decide which is best. No Noble Savage clichés here,the harshness of the Aboriginals life {look at all the flies that buzz around him}is not avoided. There is the way that 'civilisation' encroaches on nature and often ends up just exploiting it. Perhaps however the film is more about communication between cultures,or lack of,and it ends up being very moving,a possible romance that doesn't happen because of simple lack of understanding,in fact Agutter doesn't really bother to communicate properly with the Aboriginal at all {but note how her young brother and the Aboriginal do understand each other}. The final scene is extremely sad and poignant,but watch it again and decide if it isn't just idealised memory rather than real memory. Even right at the end,Roeg gets us to think about what we are being shown.
The acting by the three leads is astonishing,especially by Lucien John {Roeg's son} as the young boy. Perhaps a few of Roeg's stylistic quirks may annoy,and it's certainly not a film for those after action.However,Walkabout is an fascinating and rewarding experience that will probably linger long in the memory long after many other films have faded.