Set in 1929 Sweet Country walks the razors edge of race relations between
Aboriginals and Whites deep in the Australian. The relationship between the
communities span from being treated with respect and dignity to being seen as
property depending on whose land you’re on. The aborigines work as labour and domestic help on the
properties but fear that the continued expansion of the white settles continue
to encroach on their historical lands.
Sam Neil’s Fred Smith is at one end of the
spectrum. He treats his workers fairly and sees them as equals in conversation
and based on his actions. Nearby
Mick Kennedy (Thomas M. Wright) beats a teenage aboriginal boy Philomac (Tremayne/Trevon Doolan) who is
likely his son with a belt as he stole a watermelon from the garden. The other
end of the spectrum is occupied by Harry March (Ewen Leslie) the recently
arrived war veteran, drinks constantly Philomac to a post when he comes to work on his property then rapes
Sam Kelly’s ( Hamilton Norris) wife Lizzie ( Natassia Gorey-Fuber) who came
along with Sam and the boy to help March settle in to his new place. Philomac escapes pursued by Harry March leading to a
exchange of gunfire between Sam Kelly and March.
Director Warwick Thorton explores frontier
justice and customs in his expansive visually stunning productions. The
Northern territories with its vast open spaces, lack of green and never-ending
orange,, sun and dust serve as a featured character in the film. A group of
four lead by the local law man Sergeant Fletcher (Bryan Brown) and including
Mick and Fred chase after Sam and Lizzie who outwit them based on their
knowledge of the land. As the tale unfolds Thornton uses the nifty device of
flash forwards to give a glimpse of what the future will hold for the main
participants.
Sam Neil continues his streak of strong
performances as the steady handed preacher Fred Smith. Acting neophytes
Tremayne / Trevon Doolan alongside Hamilton Morris as Sam Kelly hold their own
in a community that is set up against them where they have no idea how they will be treated from one
person to the next. Ewen Leslie is powerful and impactful in the limited role
of Harry Marsh that serves to get the main thrust of the story kick started.
Warwick Thorton explores native/settler
relations in the most remote regions of Australia in the first part of the last
century. The settlers see their presence as just scratching the surface of the
territory while the Aborigines see them as already to deep into their
territory. This difference of opinion and position will always lead to
conflict, tension and confrontation that is unfortunately still not fully
resolved today.
**** Out of 4.
Tags: Outback, Station, Stockmen, Servants,
Rape, Beating, Shotgun, Self Defense, Chase, Trial, Verdict, Sentence.
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