Charlie’s Country

This Australian film is the story of Charlie (David Gulpilil), an elderly aboriginal living in a remote community. He is unable to conform to change and is forced to live under the “whitefella way of thinking”.

Charlie feels he is being stripped of his Aboriginal culture and ventures into the wilderness to live the “old way”, and ultimately returns all the wiser.

Beautifully filmed in Arnhem Land, this is a pessimistic but realistic depiction of life for Aboriginals in communities, highlighting the discrimination, the alcohol abuse, and the low standards of living.

Gulpilil is captivating as Charlie, a role inspired by his own experiences, for which he justifiably won Best Actor at Cannes with his powerful and heartfelt performance. (MM)

***½ /5