The film, Australia, did not become the brilliant blockbuster Baz Luhrmann had anticipated, despite all the hype before its premiere in 2008. Australia is classified as an “epic romantic action adventure film” set against historical events, but it is not a masterpiece such as Gone With The Wind.
Tourism Australia Tie-In
It was a very expensive project but it shows some really spectacular, breathtaking scenery in Australia’s Northern Territory, Western Australia’s Kimberley Region and Bowen, Queensland. The film’s promotional work was also used in recent Tourism Australia advertising campaigns to attract visitors.
Many found the film thoroughly entertaining despite negative reviews from critics and scathing comments about Nicole Kidman’s acting. (Actually, Kidman was superb as the haughty British aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley.)
Brandon Walters steals the show as is brilliant as the half-Aboriginal, half-Caucasian boy, Nullah, who shares his story with the audience.
Australia includes some humour and light-heartedness, including the drive from Darwin, and Lady Ashley’s first attempt at mustering cattle.
Part of Australia’s story focuses on the “Stolen Generation” where children of interracial relationships were often placed in church missions or state institutions to be educated. (Interracial relationships, including marriage, were illegal in Australia’s segregated society of the 1930s and 1940s. Children of these illicit relationships were forbidden to live with either white or indigenous families.) Nullah hides whenever the police arrive to remove him from Faraway Downs.
Hugh Jackman plays the rough-hewn Drover who prefers the outdoors. He also loathes everything Lady Ashley represents.
Arrival In Darwin
Lady Ashley arrives in Darwin in 1939 to confront her husband Maitland [Anton Monstead] whom she suspects of having an affair. She plans to persuade him to sell their property.
The Drover’s welcome was not what she expected. Further shocks await Lady Ashley at Faraway Downs.
The station is on the verge of ruin as its manager, Neil Fletcher [David Wenham] plots with cattle baron King Carney [Bryan Brown] to take her land, and monopolise the Northern Territory’s meat market and negotiate with the army.
Lady Ashley must join forces with a reluctant Drover to save Faraway Downs by driving 1,500 head of cattle across breathtaking but treacherous terrain. They are assisted by an alcoholic accountant Kipling Flynn [Jack Thompson], Aboriginal stockmen Magarri [David Ngoombujarra] and Goolaj [Angus Pilakui]. King George [David Gulpilil], a tribal magic man who teaches Nullah of tribal ways including storytelling and song, also accompanies them.
Lady Ashley’s loathing of the Drover turns to grudging respect, admiration and eventually love.
They are soon caught up in the Bombing of Darwin in 1942—the biggest attack since Pearl Harbour.
Bloopers
Two anachronisms in the film include The Wizard of Oz advertised in an Australian newspaper and screened in Darwin in 1939, but it was actually released in April 1940. Crates of Victoria Bitter, or VB, were not available in Darwin until the 1970s when it was sold outside Victoria.
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