By Glenn Dunks
Bran Nue Dae are three words, entirely misspelt, that will, if all pans out, be on the tip of your tongue in 2010. Known to some already as a hit stage show by Jimmy Chi from 1989, director Rachel Perkins has adapted this Aboriginal musical into a film, and it is one that is bound to appeal to audience members of all ages. Bran Nue Dae screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival to rousing applause and won the audience award for Best Film – for good reason too. It looks great, sounds great and features some scene-stealing work by some of this country’s finest actors.
The setting is Broome, 1969, and young Willie (newcomer Rocky McKenzie) is secretly in love with the beautiful Rosie (pop star Jessica Mauboy, in her first acting role). However, he is being shipped off to Catholic school in Perth, run by an overly stern priest (Geoffrey Rush). He soon runs away and begins a road trip back to Broome, where he is then joined by a homeless man (Ernie Dingo) and two backpackers (Missy Higgins and Tom Budge). Along the way they meet the likes of Magda Szubanski, who plays a rather amorous petrol station attendant, and Deborah Mailman, a drunken party girl.
What really stands out about this film is the look of it. Lensed by Oscar-winner Andrew Lesnie, the film looks astonishing. The bright sun, the red desert sand, the crisp blue of the ocean; all of it shines brightly and echoes Lesnie’s previous award-winning work on Doing Time for Patsy Cline. It makes a stark difference to most Australian films, which tend to alternate between dreamy, haunting camera work or stark digital handheld work.
With a cast such as this it’s not surprising that it is the veteran thespians that shine brightest. Rush, especially, is clearly having a blast putting on his misery face and a European accent as the old school priest. And when he gets the chance to kick up his heels and dance in the film’s big finale, he gets even better. Running side-by-side with Rush is Dingo, who is quite poignant as the homeless drifter. He possesses an impressive singing voice, too. Of the acting newcomers it is actually Higgins that comes out rosiest. Her hippy backpacker character isn’t as flamboyant as the others, but she strikes a delicate nerve with her performance, and her singing is typically top notch. It’s a shame that McKenzie is a bit of a milquetoast lead, as everybody else appears to be having so much fun.
This being a musical, it is made or broken by its songs, and on this basis the film mostly succeeds. While there is a definite erring on the side of cheesiness with a few of the numbers, there is also an infectious exuberance. Songs such as ‘I’d Rather Be An Aborigine’ are presented in a vibrant manner and will get many audience members tapping their feet. Director Perkins has worked with Indigenous issues before in films such as Radiance, as well as the Paul Kelly-starring musical One Night the Moon. She is one of this countries most important filmmakers and with Bran Nue Dae Perkins has taken a less serious look at the issues surrounding her people, and has done so with energy and verve.
Bran Nue Dae will be released nationwide on January 14th, 2010. The trailer can be viewed at http://www.bndthemovie.com/
