STARS: DAVID GULPILIL, GARRY SWEET, DAMON GAMEAU, GRANT PAGE

and NOEL WILTON

DIRECTED: Rolf De Heer

Story

Set in the 1920s, we follow five men (three whites and two aboriginals) across the landscape in what could be simplistically considered a “chase” film. The Fanatic (Gary Sweet) The Veteran (Grant Page) and The Follower (Damon Gameau) are pursuing an aboriginal murder suspect (Noel Wilton) through rugged mountainous outback country, relying on the skills of The Tracker (David Gulpilil). The tensions within the GROUP of searchers steadily escalate as the elusive fugitive continues to evade capture and The Fanatic becomes convinced that The Tracker is passively complicit in this. Deep into the search the party enters hostile territory and there is violent contact with the local natives. The tension finally erupts with the relationship between The Fanatic and The Tracker disintegrating into mutual obstinacy and defiant and violent confrontations. On the surface this is a very straightforward tale and to relate any more of it here would be inappropriate and “spoil the ending”. Suffice to say that the outcomes are not predictable and there are several surprises along the way.

This is a very, very powerful film and one which I believe has a deeper and more complex and significant message than its slightly better acclaimed and more populist contemporary - Rabbit Proof Fence. The plot is effectively a metaphor for the troubled relationship between white and indigenous Australia. The Fanatic represents the common view of the bigoted, arrogant and superior white master; The Veteran, the compliant acceptor of the status quo and The Follower, the younger generation which can see both sides of the story showing a level of objectivity and ultimately empathy with the oppressed. The Character of the Tracker shows a combination of worldly wisdom and stoicism in the face of an ignorant and brutal master, typifying so many of his race.

Extras

There is a reasonable selection of extras including an SBS interview with De Heer, some interesting but occasionally tedious out-takes, a documentary with the artist Peter Coad, and footage of the 2002 World Premiere at the Adelaide Festival , the opening of the 2002 Melbourne Film Festival/IF awards and the Venice Film Festival. Unfortunately there is an Archie Roach music clip which bears no resemblance to the music in the film and which in my view should have been left out. A trailer is provided along with an original 1971 trailer for the film Walkabout. Sound production is good with subtle and effective surround.

OverallThis film moved me profoundly when I first saw it in the cinema. Graham Tardif’s music on the sound track with Archie Roach’s vocals is haunting and I just had to track it down (sorry) the very next day. At the film’s premiere as part of the 2002 Adelaide festival this music was presented live with the film. The lyrics add a further dimension to the drama taking the interpretation to another level and working in counterpoint with the action. With a bit of web-surfing you might find De Heer’s detailed diary which covers the work on the production of the film, and the development of the music, in exquisite detail. De Heer has used a clever device to delineate some of the major scene transitions, particularly where there is violence, by inserting paintings, by South Australian painter Peter Coad, especially commissioned for the purpose. (These images, and insights into Coad’s creative process, can be found at www.abc.net.au/arts/visual/stories/s658895.htm) This was a low budget production and at times it seems shooting had to proceed in less that ideal light but this is a very minor criticism. David Gulpilil’s performance is brilliant and memorable and thoroughly deserving of the 2002 AFI award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Gary Sweet’s portrayal of his character’s brutality, anger and intolerance is similarly outstanding. These two are very ably supported by all of the remaining cast which includes indigenous people from the area where the film was shot (Flinders Ranges, SA). This film has joined my all time top 5!