In his films The Tracker, Ten Canoes and Charlie’s Country, Rolf de Heer has mixed lyrical allegory with naturalism and genre conventions, ethnographic docudrama with morality tale and Aboriginal storytelling traditions to reclaim the dignity of Indigenous Australians and decry the injustices of white colonization. The collaborative spirit of those projects — notably with the great Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil, who died in 2021 — has enabled the Dutch-born writer-director to avoid charges of cultural appropriation.
His new film, The Survival of Kindness, returns to the theme of racism, this time as a minimalist tone poem entirely without intelligible dialogue, its key characters identified in the credits only as BlackWoman, BrownGirl and BrownBoy. The dystopian vision is set against harshly beautiful landscapes that are recognizably Australian yet distinctly abstract in their depiction of place and time.
The degree to which this lament for humanity connects with any audience will vary wildly. Some will...
His new film, The Survival of Kindness, returns to the theme of racism, this time as a minimalist tone poem entirely without intelligible dialogue, its key characters identified in the credits only as BlackWoman, BrownGirl and BrownBoy. The dystopian vision is set against harshly beautiful landscapes that are recognizably Australian yet distinctly abstract in their depiction of place and time.
The degree to which this lament for humanity connects with any audience will vary wildly. Some will...
- 2/17/2023
- by David Rooney
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Visionary Dutch-Australian filmmaker Rolf de Heer, known for several landmark films including “Ten Canoes” and “Charlie’s Country,” is in competition at the upcoming Berlin Film Festival with “The Survival of Kindness.”
An allegory for racism, the film follows BlackWoman, who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert. She escapes and walks through pestilence and persecution, from desert to canyon to mountain to city, on a quest that leads to a city, recapture and tragedy.
Many of de Heer’s films are born with a single image in his mind. In the case of “The Survival of Kindness” this was an image of Peter Djigirr, the filmmaker’s closest Indigenous friend, who co-directed “Ten Canoes” and co-produced “Charlie’s Country” and acted in both of them, locked in a cage on a trailer abandoned in the desert.
“In the same way that the image of...
An allegory for racism, the film follows BlackWoman, who is abandoned in a cage on a trailer in the middle of the desert. She escapes and walks through pestilence and persecution, from desert to canyon to mountain to city, on a quest that leads to a city, recapture and tragedy.
Many of de Heer’s films are born with a single image in his mind. In the case of “The Survival of Kindness” this was an image of Peter Djigirr, the filmmaker’s closest Indigenous friend, who co-directed “Ten Canoes” and co-produced “Charlie’s Country” and acted in both of them, locked in a cage on a trailer abandoned in the desert.
“In the same way that the image of...
- 2/7/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every day of the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. The Free Movie of the Day we’re getting this week started with is a very cool one, as it happens to star Oscar-winner Russell Crowe! Crowe was born in New Zealand and got his start working on Australian projects – and today’s free movie, the 1997 crime thriller Heaven’s Burning, was the last Australian production he worked on for almost twenty years. You can check it out over on the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, or you can just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.
Directed by Craig Lahiff from a screenplay by Louis Nowra, Heaven’s Burning has the following synopsis:
Thrown together amid chaos and violence, a man and a woman stumble upon unexpected passion.
Directed by Craig Lahiff from a screenplay by Louis Nowra, Heaven’s Burning has the following synopsis:
Thrown together amid chaos and violence, a man and a woman stumble upon unexpected passion.
- 11/10/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
"Breathe in the clear air, and out the blackness…" Netflix has released an official trailer for an acclaimed, super dark Australian thriller titled The Stranger, made by actor / director Thomas M. Wright. This first premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival back in May, just played at the Melbourne Film Festival, and is also stopping by the London Film Festival before debuting on Netflix in October. A small circle of seasoned undercover cops must pose as a vast and influential criminal network to catch a murderer who has evaded conviction for eight years. Joel Edgerton stars as Mark, a cop who perilously finds himself descending deeper into hell while trying to establish a relationship with a dangerous murder suspect. The film unravels as it plays out, initially you don't know who's who and what's going on, with details coming to light as the story continues. Also starring Sean Harris, Steve Mouzakis,...
- 9/19/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
All synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
All synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
- 11/30/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
Al synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
Al synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
- 11/30/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Actor-director-writer David Field plans to pen a biography of his great mate Bill Hunter.
Field revealed his plans on Facebook, prompting numerous offers of help from colleagues and friends of the much-loved actor who died in 2011, aged 71.
Close buddies for more than 25 years, Hunter and Field often discussed co-writing a book but never got around to it.
.We were having too much fun,. Field tells If. He may use the title suggested by Hunter, which trades on one of the actor's favourite expressions, .Stand Where and Say What?.
Field first met Hunter, whose credits include Newsfront, Gallipoli, Strictly Ballroom, Muriel's Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, Road to Nhill, Crackerjack, The Pacific and The Cup, at the Belvoir Theatre.
They worked together twice, in Laurie McInnes. 1993 black-and-white drama Broken Highway and in Alkinos Tsilimidos.s 2004 film Tom White, which starred Colin Friels as an architect whose life unravels after a nervous breakdown.
Field revealed his plans on Facebook, prompting numerous offers of help from colleagues and friends of the much-loved actor who died in 2011, aged 71.
Close buddies for more than 25 years, Hunter and Field often discussed co-writing a book but never got around to it.
.We were having too much fun,. Field tells If. He may use the title suggested by Hunter, which trades on one of the actor's favourite expressions, .Stand Where and Say What?.
Field first met Hunter, whose credits include Newsfront, Gallipoli, Strictly Ballroom, Muriel's Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, Road to Nhill, Crackerjack, The Pacific and The Cup, at the Belvoir Theatre.
They worked together twice, in Laurie McInnes. 1993 black-and-white drama Broken Highway and in Alkinos Tsilimidos.s 2004 film Tom White, which starred Colin Friels as an architect whose life unravels after a nervous breakdown.
- 7/15/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Russell Crowe has been announced as the new Aacta host after a conflicting La schedule forced original host Hugh Sheridan to pull out.
The second annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards will see Crowe headline an impressive line-up of presenters, including Aacta president Geoffery Rush and Aacta ambassador Cate Blanchett.
The awards, to be held on January 30 at The Star Event Centre, will see more than 1000 Australian film and television performers and practitioners in attendance.
In addition to the Aacta Awards in Sydney, Crowe will also host the Aacta International Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, which Sheridan will now also attend.
"The Australian Academy is making its mark in the States, and I'm equally as honoured to represent the Australian industry in L.A. as host of Aacta's International Awards, as I am to return home to celebrate the success of my peers at the 2nd Aacta Awards Ceremony in Sydney,...
The second annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards will see Crowe headline an impressive line-up of presenters, including Aacta president Geoffery Rush and Aacta ambassador Cate Blanchett.
The awards, to be held on January 30 at The Star Event Centre, will see more than 1000 Australian film and television performers and practitioners in attendance.
In addition to the Aacta Awards in Sydney, Crowe will also host the Aacta International Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, which Sheridan will now also attend.
"The Australian Academy is making its mark in the States, and I'm equally as honoured to represent the Australian industry in L.A. as host of Aacta's International Awards, as I am to return home to celebrate the success of my peers at the 2nd Aacta Awards Ceremony in Sydney,...
- 1/22/2013
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Hit musical drama The Sapphires has scored 12 nominations at the 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards including in the coveted best feature film category.
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
The Sapphires, which follows four indigenous singers during the Vietnam war, has grossed more than $14 million in Australia to become the biggest local film of the year.
Three other films will be also be vying for the best feature film award: Burning Man (10 nominations in total), Lore (eight nominations in total) and Wish You Were Here (eight nominations in total) at the main Aacta ceremony, which will be held on January 30, 2013, at The Star Event Centre. Last year's event was held at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
P.J. Hogan's Mental also scored eight nominations including Best Lead Actress (Toni Collette), Best Supporting Actor (Liev Schreiber) Best Young Actor (Lily Sullivan) and Best Supporting Actress for Rebecca Gibney and Deborah Mailman.
Not Suitable for Children...
- 12/3/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
The Sapphires has led the Academy of Australian Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominations being nominated in 12 categories.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
Awards will be handed out over two events, with an awards luncheon, focused on craft categories on Monday January 28 and the main event on January 30. Both events will be held at the Star Event Centre, the first public events for the venue.
The Sapphires, distributed by Hopscotch/eOne has been nominated for Best Film, Best Direction and best adapted screenplay as well as Best Lead Actor and Actress for Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Mauboy.
Burning Man was not far behind on 10 nominations including best film and best direction as well as best lead actor for Matthre Goode and Best Supporting Actress for Essie Davis.
Three more films, Lore, Mental and Wish You Were Here received eight nominations while Not Suitable For Children received four.
- 12/3/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Being on good terms with your neighbours is one thing, using their house to shoot a movie something else entirely. Rolf de Heer must be especially convincing, or just have the best neighbours in the world considering the film in question involved putting a hole in the fence, loudly playing bad rap music, growing the grass out wildly, and putting shopping trolleys in the front yard.
Using his own house and the two neighbouring ones as the main setting for The King Is Dead!, writer and director Rolf de Heer (Ten Canoes, The Tracker) saw moving house and his good relationship with his neighbours as the perfect opportunity to film a script he.d written a few years earlier. .An opportunity came up that seemed to me to be too good to refuse,. he told If Magazine.
.I knew I was going to move my residence from where I lived...
Using his own house and the two neighbouring ones as the main setting for The King Is Dead!, writer and director Rolf de Heer (Ten Canoes, The Tracker) saw moving house and his good relationship with his neighbours as the perfect opportunity to film a script he.d written a few years earlier. .An opportunity came up that seemed to me to be too good to refuse,. he told If Magazine.
.I knew I was going to move my residence from where I lived...
- 7/17/2012
- by Rocheen Flaherty
- IF.com.au
Not Suitable for Children, distributed by Icon, has taken $147,000 at the box office in its opening weekend.
The Australian film, Peter Templeman‘s feature debut starring Ryan Kwanten and Sarah Snook opened across 42 screens for a screen average of $3,497.
Templeman told Encore: “It’s a middle-sized release which I think is pretty fair. It hasn’t had a massive marketing campaign so I think its good to not spread out too wide, and see how it does. If there is good word of mouth it will grow from there.”
Templeman added: “I certainly don’t see it as an art house film. It has universal themes with a broad appeal. It seems to get good responses from all age groups. It’s marketed towards the 20s and 30-somethings so that’s a big part of the market.”
The film has taken $199,076 in total, which includes preview screenings last week and festival screenings.
The Australian film, Peter Templeman‘s feature debut starring Ryan Kwanten and Sarah Snook opened across 42 screens for a screen average of $3,497.
Templeman told Encore: “It’s a middle-sized release which I think is pretty fair. It hasn’t had a massive marketing campaign so I think its good to not spread out too wide, and see how it does. If there is good word of mouth it will grow from there.”
Templeman added: “I certainly don’t see it as an art house film. It has universal themes with a broad appeal. It seems to get good responses from all age groups. It’s marketed towards the 20s and 30-somethings so that’s a big part of the market.”
The film has taken $199,076 in total, which includes preview screenings last week and festival screenings.
- 7/16/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
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