this year's nziff has been low on audience numbers
at least at the screenings or films i have selected
so not much hope for a film about an australian aborigine
wrong - queues at the ticket office on arrival - surprising
david gulpilil is an actor of repute - cannes award winner
the film opens with him as charlie sitting on his bed
donning very stylish orange framed glasses and staring
in his hand a crumpled piece of paper we are not shown
then he's off for his morning wander - jesting all round
how you going you white bastard - to the local policeman
not bad - how about you - you black bastard comes back
gets his handout and promptly hands it out - money - pass
his mate rolls up in his wreck of a truck - let's go hunting
this involves jumping out of the truck and shooting a buffalo
driving back into town with the beast as trophy on the bonnet
but confiscated by the police due to the use of unlicenced weapons
charlie decides it's time to go bush and sets off with a backpack
things start out ok - berries, nuts and a barramundi consumed
charlie leaping for joy at the 'supermarket' in his own back yard
but then the rains set in - his makeshift shelter quite inadequate
the piece of paper revealed again - he leading traditional dancers
at the opening of the sydney opera house with qe2 in attendance
a walkabout in the cold and wet leads to the onset of sickness
he is severely weakened - not stated but looks like pneumonia
his mate tracks him down and gets him to town and a doctor
then air-lifted to darwin hospital for an iv drip and recovery
the intent of the film now clear - it's the intervention at work
he feels/wants to be traditional - but needs white man's world
frustrated he discharges himself and hangs out with the locals
city-based aborigines less about hunting and more about drinking
eventually the uneasy tensions with the police sees charlie arrested
no sympathy in court despite his remorse and off to prison he goes
a clever set of scenes portraying the monotony of life behind bars
repeated scenes of work in the laundry and meal-time servings
pie with green slop, pasta with red slop, rice with brown slop
upon release he slopes back to his own community - full circle
is asked to teach some kids about traditional aboriginal dance
initially refuses but then upon reflection changes his mind
is then seen excitedly telling the kids about his big day
and the presence of the queen there (not sure about that)
then into the dance - charlie has found himself it seems
nice ending, nice film - good humour, good story
and the (large) audience - clapped - woo-hoo
