“Walkabout” is a 1971 drama directed by Nicholas Roeg and adapted from the novel of the same name by James Vance Marshall. The film tells the story of two teenage siblings, a girl (Jenny Agutter) and a boy (Luc Roeg), who are stranded in the Australian Outback after their father goes mad and tries to kill them and himself. They must fend for themselves in the harsh wilderness, with little food or water and no survival knowledge.
As they wander the wilderness, they eventually encounter an Aboriginal boy (David Gulpilil) on his Walkabout, a traditional rite of passage where he must survive alone in the wilderness for several months.
At first, the siblings and the Aboriginal boy struggle to communicate due to language barriers and cultural differences. As they spend more time in each other’s company, they gain insight into each other’s lifestyles and learn from one another.
The film explores themes of cultural clashes, survival, and self-discovery. The siblings must confront their mortality and the harsh realities of the natural world while the Aboriginal boy teaches them about his culture and way of life.
Roeg captures the beauty and harshness of the Australian landscape and uses the film’s poetic imagery to explore themes of human connection, cultural identity, and the natural world. The haunting score by John Barry further enhances the film’s emotional depth.
Jenny Agutter gives a powerful performance as the older sibling, struggling to keep herself and her brother alive in the wilderness. David Gulpilil, a young Aboriginal actor making his screen debut, offers a memorable and charismatic performance as the Aboriginal boy.
You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
The Other Cinema 