There are many stories of injustice to aboriginal people in the past. However, this film, although probably well intentioned, fails on some very basic levels. Firstly there is no indication of where and when the film is set. This is important in setting time and place. It also helps to understand the way of life being presented. Secondly, and this one is fundamental to my low opinion of the film and ultimately its failure to convince. The characters are sketchy to a point of being cliches. There is no background to anyone, nor are the people drawn in any sort of depth. So, the endlessly ugly behaviour is just there, without any explanation. The dialogue is downright idiotic for this time of history. The expletive ridden dialogue sounds more like it was written by a fourth year high school male student, than by a mature writer with an understanding of history. Language was different then, as typified by another miss - 'I am in the family way,' says Lizzie. No, no, no. The 'preacher' played by Sam Neill would have been more likely to say 'with child', with its Biblical overtone and so would she. The 'f' word was not heard by either my husband or I until the 1970s, as dialogue in Hollywood became less censored. It certainly wasn't used as shown here.
The only thing missing from this 'Australian western' was Jack Elam in a black hat and riding a black horse, threatening to shoot anyone in his way. There was no relief, no one who seemed to behave in a normal way. Yes, it was isolated, drew all sorts of losers to the area, but the lack of pace, lack of tension, and lack of some relief from the endless portrayal of ugly, dissolute characters is simply too naive to swallow.
