It's 1922; somewhere in Australia. When a Native Australian man is accused of murdering a white woman, three white men (The Fanatic, The Follower and The Veteran) are given the mission of ...
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In Australia's Northern Territory, a man tells us a story of his people and his land. It's about an older man, Minygululu, who has three wives and realizes that his younger brother Dayindi may try to steal away the youngest wife.
Directors:
Rolf de Heer,
Peter Djigirr
Stars:
Crusoe Kurddal,
Jamie Gulpilil,
Richard Birrinbirrin
"Twelve Canoes" is a series of short films that paint a compelling portrait of the people, history, culture and place of the Yolngu people whose homeland is the Arafura Swamp of north-central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
In 1931, three half-white, half-Aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their houses to be trained as domestic staff, and set off on a journey across the Outback.
The wheelchair-bound Julia (Heather Rose), who cannot walk, feed or dress herself, communicates via her computerized electronic voice synthesizer. Her sympathetic lesbian sister Rix (Rena ... See full summary »
A scientist & inventor in 1907, Dr Plonk, predicts that the world will end in 101 years, unless something is done about it. A comedy in the Charlie Chaplin / Buster Keaton tradition.
Director:
Rolf de Heer
Stars:
Nigel Martin,
Paul Blackwell,
Magda Szubanski
Traces the pilgrimage of John Anderson, an average guy with a passion for jazz, from his home in outback Western Australia to the jazz clubs of Paris, to meet his idol, jazz trumpeter Billy... See full summary »
Jimmie Blacksmith, the son of an Aboriginal mother and a white father, falls victim to much racist abuse after marrying a white woman, and goes on a killing spree and finds himself on the run in the aftermath.
Director:
Fred Schepisi
Stars:
Tommy Lewis,
Freddy Reynolds,
Angela Punch McGregor
Two city-bred siblings are stranded in the Australian Outback, where they learn to survive with the aid of an Aboriginal boy on his "walkabout": a ritual separation from his tribe.
It's 1922; somewhere in Australia. When a Native Australian man is accused of murdering a white woman, three white men (The Fanatic, The Follower and The Veteran) are given the mission of capturing him with the help of an experienced Native Australian (The Tracker). So they start their quest in the outback, not knowing that their inner wrestles against and for racism will be more dangerous that the actual hunting for the accused.Written by
Bruno Benton
Composer Graham Tardif wrote the music and melody for the ten original songs for the film following which screenwriter Rolf de Heer wrote the songs' lyrics. "That liberated Graham in what he could do and it meant I had a bit of word-smithing to do. And it's taken me quite some time. It has been quite difficult," de heer said. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
The Tracker:
About half a day ahead, boss, and he's gettin' tired.
The Fanatic:
Tell me when it gets to dark. Come on. Keep going.
The Tracker:
Okay, boss. Like this?
[mock running and galloping]
The Tracker:
We'll catch him quick.
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We Australians have a lot of issues to deal with, especially when it comes to reconciliation between the Aboriginal owners of Australia and Anglo settlers. The issues are difficult to come to terms with because there's been so much blood spilt in the past.
On the outset of The Tracker, my viewing partner commented: This film is going to be very difficult to watch.' He said this because it was obvious that there were going to be depictions of Aboriginals being mistreated by white folk. Yes, abuse and slaughter were depicted, but in an exceptionally sensitive manner that was non-confronting yet extremely effective.
The Tracker is a very unusual film. It is languid and leisurely paced, very reminiscent of 70's Australian cinema. A modern musical score features strongly throughout the story and constantly pushes the film towards the brink of Musical', though fortunately Tracker doesn't cross that brink.
After the first 30 minutes, I grew bored. After 40 minutes however, I felt in tune with the film and began to find it beautiful. After a slow start, Tracker becomes a well crafted character study of men from another age with very different perspectives to modern Australians.
I don't know how North American audiences will take to The Tracker because it is a film made for Australians to teach us about aspects of our past which are uncomfortable to face up to, let alone deal with.
David Gulpilil , who plays the title role, deservedly won the 2002 AFI best actor award. He gives a tightly controlled performance of a sympathetic yet mysterious character who suffers from the same human flaws as the rest of us.
7/10
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We Australians have a lot of issues to deal with, especially when it comes to reconciliation between the Aboriginal owners of Australia and Anglo settlers. The issues are difficult to come to terms with because there's been so much blood spilt in the past.
On the outset of The Tracker, my viewing partner commented: This film is going to be very difficult to watch.' He said this because it was obvious that there were going to be depictions of Aboriginals being mistreated by white folk. Yes, abuse and slaughter were depicted, but in an exceptionally sensitive manner that was non-confronting yet extremely effective.
The Tracker is a very unusual film. It is languid and leisurely paced, very reminiscent of 70's Australian cinema. A modern musical score features strongly throughout the story and constantly pushes the film towards the brink of Musical', though fortunately Tracker doesn't cross that brink.
After the first 30 minutes, I grew bored. After 40 minutes however, I felt in tune with the film and began to find it beautiful. After a slow start, Tracker becomes a well crafted character study of men from another age with very different perspectives to modern Australians.
I don't know how North American audiences will take to The Tracker because it is a film made for Australians to teach us about aspects of our past which are uncomfortable to face up to, let alone deal with.
David Gulpilil , who plays the title role, deservedly won the 2002 AFI best actor award. He gives a tightly controlled performance of a sympathetic yet mysterious character who suffers from the same human flaws as the rest of us.
7/10