Director
Rolf De Heer
Leading Actors/Actresses
David Gulpilil as Charlie
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Peter Djigirr as Black Pete, Luke Ford as Officer Luke
Genre
Drama
Language
Yolngu Matha and English
Awards
Adelaide Film Festival: Best Feature, and FCCA Awards for Best Film
Date of Release
12 October 2013
Producer
Rolf De Heer, Peter Djigirr, Nils Erik Nielsen
Setting and Context
The film is set in 2013 in an Aboriginal "homeland" community in the Northern Territory of Australia, as well as Darwin, Australia.
Narrator and Point of View
There is no narration. The point of view stays largely with Charlie, the film's protagonist.
Tone and Mood
The tone is dramatic; the mood is serene, introspective, and melancholic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist a Yolngnu man named Charlie; the principal antagonist is Luke, a white police officer.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Charlie's way of life is heavily scrutinized and limited by racist white police officers, who represent ongoing colonial oppression of Aboriginal Australians. He is emotionally traumatized and disconnected from his land and people.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Charlie is sent to prison for providing alcohol to Indigenous people who are banned from drinking.
Foreshadowing
Understatement
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Allusions
There are several allusions to Queen Elizabeth opening the Sydney Opera House.