A young girl and her younger brother are abandoned in the unforgiving Australian outback. Wandering about with no hope for survival, guidance drifts upon them from an Aborigine boy searching for his manhood. Their fleeting youth and innocence is their only communication.
Directed by Nicolas Roeg
Produced by Si Litvinoff
Cast
Jenny Agutter.......Girl
Luc Roeg..........Boy
David Gulpilil.......Aborigine
Film Festival Activity
In competition at Cannes Film Festival in 1971, Walkabout was nominated for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) award.
Enlightening Evaluations
Having viewed this film, I can somewhat understand why it would have failed at the box office in America. No stars, lengthy shots, sparse dialogue. It is certainly foreign, but foreign in the sense that Roeg brought an outsider's perspective (being British and a cinematographer) to an Australian desert with a natural, though outlandish story. It makes for a strange synthesis. However, its poor reception in Australia, where it holds a significant role in their national cinema is beyond me. My American sensibilities make it difficult for me to imagine the air of 1970's Australian society. Regardless of the masses' reactions, Walkabout is worth at least one viewing. If at all interested in cinema, which I imagine most reading this are, watching this film will reward both filmically and academically.
But do not take my word for it. The authors of these reviews are much more convincing:
Marketing
With Walkabout, the marketing strategy revolved around the unconventional and exotic nature of the film. The film's collaborators strived to emphasize a fresh cinematic experience based in and on unfamiliar territory. Regarding the style and subject matter of the movie, any other descriptions (ads, teasers) would not have enticed viewers as well. At least not by honest means. They chose a very accessible element (being different) from a film that may be somewhat inaccessible (for the time, culture, etc). Something different is always attractive. Whether the opinions of the film are positive or negative after the experience is another story. Culture and era in mind, I cannot say I would have done differently.
No comments:
Post a Comment