High Ground

 

Official Australian release date: 28/1/21. Viewed: 7/2/21.
Director: Stephen Johnson
Actors: Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Callan Mulvey, Sean Mununggurr
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Rating: MA

‘High Ground’ is a fictionalised glimpse into events that would have happened all the time in the 18^th, 19^th & even 20^th century, as the British colonised Australia. This film is set in the 1930s, in Arnhem Land and Kakadu, and follows one Aboriginal tribe’s fight for survival, particularly Gutjuk (Nayinggul), his uncle Baywara (Mununggurr) and grandfather Dharrpa (Marika), after the shocking intro scene we see in 1919.

Involved in the 1919 attack are Travis (Baker) and Eddy (Mulvey), both NT Police who report to Moran (Thompson). It’s interesting to see their varying amounts of tolerance for the locals, including when Walter (Pedersen) comes in from Queensland to help. Thompson does a good job of pretensions Monarch-loving toff, while Baker is understated. The film starts to move when Travis and Gutjuk are sent to find and bring in Baywara, where allegiances are tested.

The film’s rated MA for a reason and there are a few devastating scenes. But they’re put there to make us confront and acknowledge what happened in Australia for 150 years after white settlement. The film does this well by letting us see through Gutjuk’s eyes – Nayinggul does well as both a literal and metaphorical translator. Drones are used to great effect to capture the stunning scenery and the score and soundtrack are both good. Certainly not fun, but a well-made film and story.

Overall: Australian racial tension contrasted with natural beauty.

Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.