Last night I watched my neighbour's DVD of ‘The Tracker’, a movie produced in 2002 by Rolf De Heer but even more relevant and meaningful today, now that we seem more willing to face the ‘truth-telling’ needed in this country. ‘The Tracker’ tells a shocking story anchored in the unwelcome realities of Australian history.
It was brilliantly filmed in the stunning countryside of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia and is worth viewing for that reason alone. The scenery is almost mystical.
It was brilliantly acted too, especially by David Gulpilil in the lead role, who surreptiously led his three white ‘bosses’ by the nose throughout the film. At face value, he was the inferior being, made to walk the whole way while the white men took the easy way, looking down on him from horseback, but floundering without their horses. Who was really the fittest, physically, and the strongest, mentally? As The Tracker, even when chained, he captured flawlessly the advanced sense of humour and irony reported by early colonial diarists among the Aborigines they came across. He demonstrated vividly what Watkin Tench declared about them in 1791, that they ‘possess a considerable portion of that acumen, or sharpness of intellect, which bespeaks genius’.
I recoiled at the role played by Gary Sweet as the lead trooper, the policeman in charge. It mirrored too closely the experiences of my forebears in the 1790s at the Hawkesbury, where the first massacre of Aborigines took place in 1794.
I liked the part played by Damon Gameau as the young policeman, who started off clearly terrified by his situation but who began to recognise the skills possessed by The Tracker and finally stepped up to do the right thing. Oh that there had been more like him in our history.
I liked Grant Page's depiction of the laid-back older trooper, fully aware of what was going on but laconic, stoical and passively accepting cruel figures of authority. He was typical of the physically tough ‘she’ll be right’ loners who populated our outback.
The scenes of violence towards Aborigines which we all know darken our history were handled with imagery … artwork. It somehow made a more vivid and lasting impression. The payback killing within the Aboriginal community reflected the way in which their own tribal laws worked.
The film has a haunting musical score, with songs sung mournfully by Archie Roach.
All Australians should watch this unusual, engrossing film! I see it can be seen for a few more days (until 6 April 2020) on SBS Online.
It was brilliantly acted too, especially by David Gulpilil in the lead role, who surreptiously led his three white ‘bosses’ by the nose throughout the film. At face value, he was the inferior being, made to walk the whole way while the white men took the easy way, looking down on him from horseback, but floundering without their horses. Who was really the fittest, physically, and the strongest, mentally? As The Tracker, even when chained, he captured flawlessly the advanced sense of humour and irony reported by early colonial diarists among the Aborigines they came across. He demonstrated vividly what Watkin Tench declared about them in 1791, that they ‘possess a considerable portion of that acumen, or sharpness of intellect, which bespeaks genius’.
I recoiled at the role played by Gary Sweet as the lead trooper, the policeman in charge. It mirrored too closely the experiences of my forebears in the 1790s at the Hawkesbury, where the first massacre of Aborigines took place in 1794.
I liked the part played by Damon Gameau as the young policeman, who started off clearly terrified by his situation but who began to recognise the skills possessed by The Tracker and finally stepped up to do the right thing. Oh that there had been more like him in our history.
I liked Grant Page's depiction of the laid-back older trooper, fully aware of what was going on but laconic, stoical and passively accepting cruel figures of authority. He was typical of the physically tough ‘she’ll be right’ loners who populated our outback.
The scenes of violence towards Aborigines which we all know darken our history were handled with imagery … artwork. It somehow made a more vivid and lasting impression. The payback killing within the Aboriginal community reflected the way in which their own tribal laws worked.
The film has a haunting musical score, with songs sung mournfully by Archie Roach.
All Australians should watch this unusual, engrossing film! I see it can be seen for a few more days (until 6 April 2020) on SBS Online.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment