Australia: A Film Review

Australia is a riveting and heart-wrenching film. This historical fiction is set at the start of World War II.  As the country enters the war, its citizens and Indigenous Australians deal with their own racial war at home. The Aboriginals (more commonly known as Indigenous Australians,) who produced  interracial children have to deal with the fact their children are taken away from them. 

 The so-called reason these precious mixed children were taken by the missionaries  was because they needed to be educated and civilized “properly.” Australia, since 1973 has stopped removing children from their homes and has formally apologized to the “Stolen Generations” in 2008. In the film, these children were called several undignified names to point out they were mixed. 

Narrating the film, is a half-white, half Indigenous Australian boy named Nullah played by newcomer Brandon Walters. His smile brightens the screen as he tells the tale of how he interacted with those around him. He tells the story of him meeting Mrs. Boss, as he affectionately calls Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashely. Kidman, in her native country, provides a serene, emotional and oftentimes comedic role as this is a Baz Luhrmann film (he is an Australian as well).

While in England, Lady Ashely wants her husband to return from Australia. On her way to the house in FarAway Downs (a cattle station), she discovers that her husband has been killed.

Originally, Kidman’s character wanted to sell her cattle station to Lesley, “King” Carney (Bryan Brown) who owns every cattle station in the country, except hers. However, she had a change of heart, when she began to see what Australia really had to offer. Her eyes, ears and heart are opened by Nullah and by Drover (Hugh Jackman).

Jackman, who got a chance to play a role in his native Australian accent, created a character who was both funny, serious and charismatic at the same time.  Drover drives the cattle and drives the English Socialite, Lady Ashely crazy. However, he has a change of heart and helps her to manage FarAway Downs.

Considering this is a Baz Luhrman film; be prepared for traditional comedic scenes, dramatic moments that will hit the bottom of your soul and enchanting landscapes that will draw in your senses. The music delivered in this film was powerful, and the melodies were oftentimes very haunting, that it could make your spine tingle. The composer David Hirschfelder, did a superb job of providing native music, along with Indigenous Australian chants to lead the audience on a mesmerizing and breathtaking journey to the outback. Buy this film on DVD at eBay today. 

This film may have been fiction but the historical  context will hopefully make you discover what Australia has to offer. Learn its history and also learn of the Stolen Generation which are still at times wound deep. You can learn about the Stolen Generations at the Australian Museum, where they also provide several other educational links. 

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