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| Poster artwork for the musical comedy romance film Bran Nue Dae. |
Broome-bound by
Linh
Bran
Nue Dae is the brainchild of Asian-Aborigine writer/composer/director
Jimmy Chi, who included some of his own
life experiences of relationships, indigenous land rights, self-discovery and
religion into what began as a stage musical production in Western Australia in
1990, and then became a documentary which explored the issues behind the stage
musical in greater depth. Jimmy Chi and Broome band Kuckles collaborated with
other friends to bring his idea to life, with a blend of spiritual/rock/reggae/blues
music accompanying the story of a teenage Aborigine's journey 'home'. It is a
metaphor where 'home' is symbolic of his consciousness and relates to his
understanding of his place in the world and among his people.
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REBEL
REVOLTS: Willie (Rocky McKenzie) refuses to join the priesthood
in the film musical Bran Nue Dae.
Image: Roadshow Films.
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Director Rachel Perkins (Radiance) has made Bran Nue
Dae into a feel-good, humourous and inspirational film featuring an
excellent cast, brilliant songs and music.
Bran Nue Dae's vibrancy, energy and comedy is a refreshing change in
Australian cinema where most of the locally-produced films in the past year had
very grim and depressing themes or storylines.
The story is set in the summer of 1969 and follows a
teenage boy named Willie who lives in Broome with his religious mother Theresa,
and his attempt to win the heart of local songstress Rosie. Willie's mum sends him
off to a Catholic boarding school in Perth and under the watchful eye of Father
Benedictus, he is groomed to become a priest. Unfortunately, Willie succumbs to
peer pressure and disobeys one of the Ten Commandments - "thou shalt not
steal". He refuses a beating as punishment from Father Benedictus and runs
away from the boarding school to find his way home to Broome. Along the way
Willie meets some colourful, confused and comic characters who are also part of
his path to self-discovery.
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ROCKIN'
ROSIE: Lester (Dan Sultan) has his eyes on the lovely singer
Rosie (Jessica Mauboy) in the film musical Bran
Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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The ensemble cast is a joy to watch with some familiar
faces already cemented in our hearts and minds from television, music, stage
and film backgrounds. The most
recognisable face among the talented cast is Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush
who brings an air of religious righteousness mixed with dry wit and humour to
his character the German priest, Father Benedictus; Rocky McKenzie is convincing
as the rebellious teenager, Willie, and his singing voice is marvellous; singer
and song writer Missy Higgins is wonderful in her feature film debut as a daffy
and affable hippie named Annie who possesses a strong sense of spirituality; Jessica
Mauboy (The Sapphires) also makes her
film debut, and steals almost every scene as Rosie, when she sings, dances and
acts with confidence and panache; one of the original cast members of Bran Nue Dae the stage musical is Ernie
Dingo who reprises his role as Uncle Tadpole in the film. Dingo provides a
spirited and amusing presence as the homeless drunk who becomes a friend and
father figure to Willie.
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PRIESTLY
PURSUIT: Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush) is hot on the trail of
runaway teenager Willie in the film musical Bran
Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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The supporting cast is terrific with Tom Budge as Annie's
sceptical German boyfriend Slippery; Deborah Mailman, whom Rachel Perkins
directed in Radiance, shines in her
brief appearances as the "good-time" girl Roxanne who tries to
deflower Willie under the condom tree; and comedienne Magda Szubanski is a hoot
and relishes her cameo role as a mad but flirty Roadhouse Betty.
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MUSICAL
MUSINGS: Uncle Tadpole (Ernie Dingo) and Annie (Missy Higgins)
share a love for music in the film musical Bran
Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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Bran
Nue Dae boasts equally fine talent behind the camera, with New
South Welshman and Oscar winner Andrew Lesnie as cinematographer. Lesnie, who worked
with Peter Jackson on The Lord of The
Rings Trilogy, King Kong and The Lovely Bones, brings the rural
beauty of Western Australia to the forefront and the spectacular wide open
spaces are used to great effect.
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WATER
WONDERS: Annie (Missy Higgins) and her boyfriend Slippery (Tom
Budge) bathe in the waterhole in the film musical Bran Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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Some of the songs from the original stage musical were
dropped and new ones added, such as the rock/blues rendition of 'Stand ByYour
Man' which is beautifully sung by Jessica Mauboy in the film. Musical producer
David Bridie, a Melbourne musician and band member of My Friend The Chocolate
Cake, brings his skills to the film where he shows flair for composing scores which
evoke emotion and stimulates the senses. Songs from the stage musical which
feature in the film include the joyful song title 'Bran Nue Dae', the catchy 'There’s
Nothing I Would Rather Be (Than To Be An Aborigine)', and the gentle and
calming ballad 'Afterglow' sung with heartfelt sincerity by Missy Higgins.
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FINDING
FAMILY: Father Bendictus (Geoffrey Rush) and Theresa (Ningali
Lawford) reveal family connections to Slippery (Tom Budge) in the film musical Bran Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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Bran
Nue Dae only touches lightly on many political/social issues
affecting Aborigines such as alcoholism, land rights/native title, and racism.
The film doesn't make the indigenous people appear as political targets,
instead it gives a voice to Aborigines to express the messages from an Aboriginal
perspective of everyday social issues. The film's characters strongly
communicate the message that everyone shares common human values and
relationships regardless of race or religion. Bran Nue Dae is an entertaining and joyful musical comedy and road
movie that will lift your spirits and inspire you to look forward to your own
brand new day.
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HAPPY
HOME: Willie (Rocky McKenzie) prefers Broome as his home
instead of Perth in the film musical Bran
Nue Dae. Image: Roadshow Films.
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Director:
Rachel Perkins
Writers:
Jimmy Chi, Rachel Perkins, Reg Cribb Stephen Pigram, Patrick Duttoo Bin Amat,
Michael Manolis Mavromatis, Kuckles
Cast:
Geoffrey Rush, Rocky McKenzie, Jessica Mauboy, Ernie Dingo, Missy Higgins, Tom
Budge, Deborah Mailman, Magda Szubanski, Ningali Lawford, Dan Sultan
Producers:
David Whealy, Christopher Mapp, Matthew Street, Robyn Kershaw, Graeme Isaac,
Glennie Allan, Andrea Distefano, Catherine Bishop
Original
Music Composer: Cezary Skubiszewski
Music
Producer: David Bridie
Cinematographer:
Andrew Lesnie (Director of Photography)
Film
Editor: Rochelle Oshlack
Choreographer:
Stephen Page
Production:
Felicity Abbott (Production Designer), Sophie Nash (Art Director), Tania
Einberg (Set Decorator)
Costume
Designer: Margot Wilson
Running
Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes
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