CHARLIE’S COUNTRY

Blackfella Charlie is out of sorts. The intervention is making life more difficult on his remote community, what with the proper policing of whitefella laws now. So Charlie takes off, to live the old way, but in so doing sets off a chain of events in his life that has him return to his community chastened, and somewhat the wiser.

Gulpilil is brilliant as always. It’s heart-rending to see the way in which Aboriginal people are oppressed and diminished by misunderstanding and mistreatment. It’s slow-moving and reflective in its naturalistic rawness. Sad and moving.

***1/2