One of the most powerful Australian films I’ve seen, delivering an unflinching portrayal of white Australia through its brutal imagery. It masterfully explores the lingering effects of colonialism on Aboriginal people with such precision and sensitivity. The story follows an Indigenous Australian’s desperate struggle to belong, only to spiral into despair upon realising true acceptance is unattainable because of the colour of his skin. The film’s brilliance lies in its brutal honesty and emotional weight. It’s so heartbreaking and incredibly thought-provoking. A truly exceptional film.

One of the most powerful Australian films I’ve seen, delivering an unflinching portrayal of white Australia through its brutal imagery. It masterfully explores the lingering effects of colonialism on Aboriginal people with such precision and sensitivity. The story follows an Indigenous Australian’s desperate struggle to belong, only to spiral into despair upon realising true acceptance is unattainable because of the colour of his skin. The film’s brilliance lies in its brutal honesty and emotional weight. It’s so heartbreaking and incredibly thought-provoking. A truly exceptional film.

If you are looking to watch more Australian New Wave films, this is a great one to start on. I was really surprised by the amount of laughing that happened in a movie about such serious topics.

If you are looking to watch more Australian New Wave films, this is a great one to start on. I was really surprised by the amount of laughing that happened in a movie about such serious topics.

A Coloniser Double-Feature from the 1001 list to c̶e̶l̶e̶b̶r̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶A̶u̶s̶t̶r̶a̶l̶i̶a̶ ̶D̶a̶y̶ ̶ commiserate Invasion Day.

Fred Schepsi's The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, based on the novel by Thomas Kennealy, is a seriously cold-blooded revenge flick, a powder-keg of racial injustice with a fuse near seconds from detonation point. As relevant when it was made (the late 70s) as when it was set (the early 1900s) and incredulosly STILL relevant today in a country that is so petty and cruel to deny a voice to Indigenous Australia.

Tommy Lewis is simmering rage and righteous indignation personified in a strong performance as the titular Jimmie. There are plenty of known Australian faces in the cast including Jack Thompson as a pious Pastor, Ray Barret as a sadistic Police captain, Uncle Jack Charles as a prisoner at the mercy of said sadistic Police captain, Ruth Cracknell as wife of a settler (she doesn't drop her oranges on the coffin here), Bryan Brown as a shearer and Ray 'Flamin Mongrel Alf Stewart' Meagher as a member of the hunting party aiming to track Blacksmith down. Peter Carroll as the white leftie school teacher who proclaims about Jimmie's right to be angry and at one point even whitesplains the location of a Aboriginal ceremonial site had me feeling very seen 😅

As stated above, this is cold blooded and does not back down or soften Jimmie in order to make his vengeance easier to swallow. It's not an easy cheer-along as with Django taking down a racist skull lecturing Leo, but it leaves the viewer with a deep seated feeling of justifiable anger and the need for colonial Australia to recognise and acknowledge our role in this.

Maybe something simple...like changing a date...could be a good start?

318/1001 - 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

A Coloniser Double-Feature from the 1001 list to c̶e̶l̶e̶b̶r̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶A̶u̶s̶t̶r̶a̶l̶i̶a̶ ̶D̶a̶y̶ ̶ commiserate Invasion Day.

Fred Schepsi's The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, based on the novel by Thomas Kennealy, is a seriously cold-blooded revenge flick, a powder-keg of racial injustice with a fuse near seconds from detonation point. As relevant when it was made (the late 70s) as when it was set (the early 1900s) and incredulosly STILL relevant today in a country that is so petty and cruel to deny a voice to Indigenous Australia.

Tommy Lewis is simmering rage and righteous indignation personified in a strong performance as the titular Jimmie. There are plenty of known Australian faces in the cast including Jack Thompson as a pious Pastor, Ray Barret as a sadistic Police captain, Uncle Jack Charles as a prisoner at the mercy of said sadistic Police captain, Ruth Cracknell as wife of a settler (she doesn't drop her oranges on the coffin here), Bryan Brown as a shearer and Ray 'Flamin Mongrel Alf Stewart' Meagher as a member of the hunting party aiming to track Blacksmith down. Peter Carroll as the white leftie school teacher who proclaims about Jimmie's right to be angry and at one point even whitesplains the location of a Aboriginal ceremonial site had me feeling very seen 😅

As stated above, this is cold blooded and does not back down or soften Jimmie in order to make his vengeance easier to swallow. It's not an easy cheer-along as with Django taking down a racist skull lecturing Leo, but it leaves the viewer with a deep seated feeling of justifiable anger and the need for colonial Australia to recognise and acknowledge our role in this.

Maybe something simple...like changing a date...could be a good start?

318/1001 - 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die