Kaytetye filmmaker and Central Australia Australia’s most prolific director, Warwick Thornton was returned with Wolfram, now showing at the Alice Springs cinema, a follow up to his gritty 2018 western Sweet Country.
Philomac (Pedrea Jackson) now a young man of 18, escapes the horrific treatment from his boss Kennedy (Thomas M Wright) to aid two children Max (Hazel Jackson) and Kid (Eli Hart) reunite with their mother Pansy (Deborah Mailman). The group are pursued by Kennedy’s associates, the vile Casey (Errol Shane) and Frank (Joe Bird).
Wolfram offers an interesting counter point to Sweet Country, in that we see a gradual shift in the co-existence between Indigenous Australia and it’s colonial invaders, which while far from a place of equality in this time period, there is a level of tolerance that rejects the more extreme and vile racist views of Casey and Frank. It is a passive and tenuous rejection though with the likes of Kennedy the epitome of cowardice, seeking pathetic acceptance from his peers.
Philomac’s courage and defiance of this treatment, his compassion for the younger generation and his quest to reconnect with family offer a level of hope, highlighting the strength of culture present even through the distance between Mailman and her children.
As always Thornton expertly captures the harsh beauty of his home through imagery and fly-blown sound design. I also had to google what Wolfram is!
Thornton will be presenting the film along with a Q&A next Sunday at Alice Springs Cinema.
Kaytetye filmmaker and Central Australia Australia’s most prolific director, Warwick Thornton was returned with Wolfram, now showing at the Alice Springs cinema, a follow up to his gritty 2018 western Sweet Country.
Philomac (Pedrea Jackson) now a young man of 18, escapes the horrific treatment from his boss Kennedy (Thomas M Wright) to aid two children Max (Hazel Jackson) and Kid (Eli Hart) reunite with their mother Pansy (Deborah Mailman). The group are pursued by Kennedy’s associates, the vile Casey (Errol Shane) and Frank (Joe Bird).
Wolfram offers an interesting counter point to Sweet Country, in that we see a gradual shift in the co-existence between Indigenous Australia and it’s colonial invaders, which while far from a place of equality in this time period, there is a level of tolerance that rejects the more extreme and vile racist views of Casey and Frank. It is a passive and tenuous rejection though with the likes of Kennedy the epitome of cowardice, seeking pathetic acceptance from his peers.
Philomac’s courage and defiance of this treatment, his compassion for the younger generation and his quest to reconnect with family offer a level of hope, highlighting the strength of culture present even through the distance between Mailman and her children.
As always Thornton expertly captures the harsh beauty of his home through imagery and fly-blown sound design. I also had to google what Wolfram is!
Thornton will be presenting the film along with a Q&A next Sunday at Alice Springs Cinema.
