Bran Nue Dae (film)
Encyclopedia
Bran Nue Dae is a feature film adaptation of 1990 musical Bran Nue Dae
by Jimmy Chi
. It was theatrically released in Australia on 14 January 2010, and in the United States on 10 September 2010.
in 1969, William 'Willie' Johnson is having trouble wooing his girl Rosie, who ends up with another man. His mother sends him back to boarding school
(filmed at Clontarf Aboriginal College
in Perth
) to continue his education for the priesthood. One night, he and several others steal food from the college kitchen but are caught. Willie admits to being the thief, but runs away before he can be punished.
He spends the night on the streets of Perth before meeting up with 'Uncle' Tadpole, who offers to help him get home. They go to Fremantle
where Tadpole allows himself to be run over by a Kombi van
, hoping that the two hippies inside will help him. Not realising how far it will be to Broome, the hippies, 'Slippery' the German and Annie his girlfriend, agree to drive them.
Father Benedictus, head of the College, has seen Willie's potential and determines to locate him; through Tadpole's homeless friends he learns that Willie is heading to Broome.
The travellers drive north, stopping at a roadhouse
where Willie meets the tarty 'Roadhouse Betty'. Tadpole steals some food, a bottle of wine and an audio tape, nearly causing them to get shot by Betty, but they manage to escape. Slippery becomes disillusioned, and leaves Willie and Tadpole behind in the middle of nowhere; Tadpole curses the hippies by pointing a bone
, and the van promptly breaks down.
Willie then gets a ride with a passing truck carrying the members of a football team. They end up in Port Hedland where he meets flirty Roxanne, who takes him to the 'condom tree' and offers to 'show him a good time'. But her boyfriend turns up and a fight ensues. Willie is rescued by Tadpole, who says that all young men end up there at some point.
Next morning, they are driving along a desert road when a hung-over Roxanne emerges from the back seat, startling everyone. While smoking some pot, they are discovered by police and arrested, despite Annie's attempts at stopping the police from arresting them. At the police station, Slippery reveals that his real name is Wolfgang Benedictus. The police then put them in a jail cell for a night.
They are released next morning, and drive on to Broome, where they go to the bar where Rosie is performing. Willie tries win her back, but ends up in a fight with her new boyfriend Lester, only to be disrupted by a church temperance march
, which invites everyone to the beach to testify. Willie tells Rosie he loves her, and they kiss.
At the beach, Willie's mother reveals that she had a son to another man, who turns out to be Father Benedictus. Wolfgang is their son. Tadpole is spotted by Willie's mother, and she tells Willie that he is Tadpole's son.
on its closing night on 8 August 2009. The film made its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival
at the Scotiabank Theatre
on 12 September 2009. The film will be among the lineup of out-of-competition films to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival
in 2010. The film made its official theatrical premiere at the Sun Pictures theatre in Broome
, Western Australia
on 8 December 2009 where the stars of the film walked a "red dirt" carpet. In the lead up to the premiere on the day stars of the film Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Missy Higgins and Ernie Dingo put on a public performance with the Kuckles
band in Broome's Chinatown.
reports that 58% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 57 reviews, with an average score of 6/10. The critical consensus is: "It's original and high-spirited, but Bran Nue Dae is also uneven and sometimes overly kitschy."
Dennis Harvey of Variety
said "it retains that dated once-almost-hip look — like Up With People..." but it contained "...blandly stereotypical characters in a trite road-trip narrative..." and in regards to younger audiences claimed "There's scant real dancing, mostly forgettable, showtune-type songs and no ethnic authenticity." Craig Mathieson
of SBS Films commented that "Bran Nue Dae has a daffy, garish energy that’s reflected in brisk pacing and up-tempo tunes". On director Rachel Perkins he stated "Visually Perkins is not a natural fit for this material..." comparing it to her 1998 feature, Radiance but "...here she enthusiastically takes to the moments of farce and productions numbers." In terms of choreography the "... frames feel cluttered, with an occasional echo of the amped-up musical melodrama..." but ending it on a positive note with "... like another Australian musical... Bran Nue Dae carries the day with energy and self-belief." The Age's
Philippa Hawker praised the cast stating Ernie Dingo
was "...terrific as Uncle Tadpole...", for Geoffrey Rush
who "...brings an idiosyncratic physical energy and an extravagant German accent to the role..." and new comer Jessica Mauboy
brought "...sweetness and confidence to the role of Rosie..."
Wins
Nominations
Bran Nue Dae
Bran Nue Dae is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi, his band Kuckles and friends and was the first Aboriginal musical. The musical was originally directed by Andrew Ross, a prominent...
by Jimmy Chi
Jimmy Chi
Jimmy Chi was born in 1948 in Broome, Western Australia, to a Chinese/Japanese/Anglo-Australian father and a Scots/Bardi Aboriginal mother. He is a composer, musician and playwright.- Biography :...
. It was theatrically released in Australia on 14 January 2010, and in the United States on 10 September 2010.
Plot
In BroomeBroome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
in 1969, William 'Willie' Johnson is having trouble wooing his girl Rosie, who ends up with another man. His mother sends him back to boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
(filmed at Clontarf Aboriginal College
Clontarf Aboriginal College
Clontarf Aboriginal College is the current name of a former orphanage for boys operated by the Christian Brothers organisation in the Perth suburb of Waterford in Western Australia. Opening in 1901, the facility has been used for a number of purposes since, most notably as an orphanage but also as...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
) to continue his education for the priesthood. One night, he and several others steal food from the college kitchen but are caught. Willie admits to being the thief, but runs away before he can be punished.
He spends the night on the streets of Perth before meeting up with 'Uncle' Tadpole, who offers to help him get home. They go to Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
where Tadpole allows himself to be run over by a Kombi van
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
, hoping that the two hippies inside will help him. Not realising how far it will be to Broome, the hippies, 'Slippery' the German and Annie his girlfriend, agree to drive them.
Father Benedictus, head of the College, has seen Willie's potential and determines to locate him; through Tadpole's homeless friends he learns that Willie is heading to Broome.
The travellers drive north, stopping at a roadhouse
Roadhouse (facility)
A roadhouse is a commercial establishment typically built on a major road or highway, to service passing travellers. Its meaning varies slightly by country.-USA:...
where Willie meets the tarty 'Roadhouse Betty'. Tadpole steals some food, a bottle of wine and an audio tape, nearly causing them to get shot by Betty, but they manage to escape. Slippery becomes disillusioned, and leaves Willie and Tadpole behind in the middle of nowhere; Tadpole curses the hippies by pointing a bone
Kurdaitcha
Kurdaitcha is a ritual "executioner" in Australian Aboriginal culture. The word is from the Arrernte people and specifically refers to the shoes worn by the man, woven of feathers and human hair and treated with blood...
, and the van promptly breaks down.
Willie then gets a ride with a passing truck carrying the members of a football team. They end up in Port Hedland where he meets flirty Roxanne, who takes him to the 'condom tree' and offers to 'show him a good time'. But her boyfriend turns up and a fight ensues. Willie is rescued by Tadpole, who says that all young men end up there at some point.
Next morning, they are driving along a desert road when a hung-over Roxanne emerges from the back seat, startling everyone. While smoking some pot, they are discovered by police and arrested, despite Annie's attempts at stopping the police from arresting them. At the police station, Slippery reveals that his real name is Wolfgang Benedictus. The police then put them in a jail cell for a night.
They are released next morning, and drive on to Broome, where they go to the bar where Rosie is performing. Willie tries win her back, but ends up in a fight with her new boyfriend Lester, only to be disrupted by a church temperance march
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, which invites everyone to the beach to testify. Willie tells Rosie he loves her, and they kiss.
At the beach, Willie's mother reveals that she had a son to another man, who turns out to be Father Benedictus. Wolfgang is their son. Tadpole is spotted by Willie's mother, and she tells Willie that he is Tadpole's son.
Cast
- Rocky McKenzieRocky McKenzieRocky McKenzie is an Aborginal/Australian film actor from Broome, Western Australia. He played Willie in the film version of Bran Nue Dae. In 2010 he won a Deadly for Male Actor of the Year.-External links:...
as Willie, the film's protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. A rebellious teenage boy who escapes the Catholic Mission in PerthPerth, Western AustraliaPerth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to return to his home in BroomeBroome, Western AustraliaBroome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
. - Geoffrey RushGeoffrey RushGeoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
as Father Benedictus, the film's antagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
. As a strict GermanGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
priest who runs the Catholic Mission in Perth training young men to become priests, he pursues Willie who ran away from the school. The part for Father Benedictus was offered to Rush by director Perkins. - Tom BudgeTom BudgeTom Budge is an Australian actor. Budge was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Early in his acting career, Budge appeared in a number of Australian television shows, includingNeighbours, Round the Twist and Shock Jock etc...
as Slippery, a German hippie tourist travelling with his girlfriend Annie in a Kombi vanVolkswagen Type 2The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
. - Missy HigginsMissy HigginsMelissa "Missy" Morrison Higgins is an Australian pop singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Her No. 1 albums in Australia are The Sound of White and On a Clear Night , and her Top Ten singles are "Scar", "The Special Two", "Steer" and "Where I Stood". From a musical family in...
as Annie, Slippery's spiritual girlfriend who is travelling with him to Perth. This is Higgins' acting debut. - Ernie DingoErnie DingoErnie Dingo AM is an Indigenous Australian actor and television presenter originating from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia.-Background:...
as Uncle Tadpole, a drunk who accompanies Willie on his adventure. Dingo played the role of Uncle Tadpole in the original production of the stage play Bran Nue Dae in 1989. - Jessica MauboyJessica MauboyJessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
as Rosie, an aspiring singer and the love of Willie's life. Mauboy, who was runner-up in the fourth season of Australian IdolAustralian IdolAustralian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
, makes her acting debut. - Deborah MailmanDeborah MailmanDeborah Mailman , is an Australian television and film actress. She was the first Aboriginal actress to win the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role...
– Roxanne - Ningali Lawford as Theresa, Willie's mother. Ningali is one of the cast members from the original 1989 stage production of Bran Nue Dae.
- Stephen "Baamba" Albert as Pastor Flaggon. Stephen is also one of the cast members from the original 1989 stage production of Bran Nue Dae.
- Dan SultanDan SultanDan Sultan is an Australian singer and songwriter. Sultan plays what he calls country soul rock ‘n’ roll.-Biography:Daniel Leo Sultan was born in 1983 and grew up in Williamstown, Melbourne. His father was Irish and his mother, Roslyn Sultan, was Aboriginal from the Arrernte and Gurindji people...
as Lester, the local band leader who finds himself in love with Rosie. - Magda SzubanskiMagda SzubanskiMagda Szubanski is a British-born Australian actress, comedian, television presenter, radio host and author.Szubanski's career began while she was studying at university and she progressed to television sketch comedy, as both a writer and performer...
as Roadhouse Betty, the frisky owner of a Roadhouse.
Release
Bran Nue Dae made its debut at the Melbourne International Film FestivalMelbourne International Film Festival
The Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
on its closing night on 8 August 2009. The film made its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
at the Scotiabank Theatre
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
on 12 September 2009. The film will be among the lineup of out-of-competition films to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in 2010. The film made its official theatrical premiere at the Sun Pictures theatre in Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
on 8 December 2009 where the stars of the film walked a "red dirt" carpet. In the lead up to the premiere on the day stars of the film Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Missy Higgins and Ernie Dingo put on a public performance with the Kuckles
Kuckles
Kuckles is an Australian band. They formed in 1981 by students from Broome, Western Australia studying at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music in Adelaide. Their music moved from acoustic calypso toward an electric reggae/rock style...
band in Broome's Chinatown.
Critical reception
The film received generally mixed reviews. Review aggregate Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports that 58% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 57 reviews, with an average score of 6/10. The critical consensus is: "It's original and high-spirited, but Bran Nue Dae is also uneven and sometimes overly kitschy."
Dennis Harvey of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
said "it retains that dated once-almost-hip look — like Up With People..." but it contained "...blandly stereotypical characters in a trite road-trip narrative..." and in regards to younger audiences claimed "There's scant real dancing, mostly forgettable, showtune-type songs and no ethnic authenticity." Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson
Craig Mathieson is an Australian music journalist and writer. His books include, Hi Fi Days and The Sell-In .-Biography:...
of SBS Films commented that "Bran Nue Dae has a daffy, garish energy that’s reflected in brisk pacing and up-tempo tunes". On director Rachel Perkins he stated "Visually Perkins is not a natural fit for this material..." comparing it to her 1998 feature, Radiance but "...here she enthusiastically takes to the moments of farce and productions numbers." In terms of choreography the "... frames feel cluttered, with an occasional echo of the amped-up musical melodrama..." but ending it on a positive note with "... like another Australian musical... Bran Nue Dae carries the day with energy and self-belief." The Age's
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
Philippa Hawker praised the cast stating Ernie Dingo
Ernie Dingo
Ernie Dingo AM is an Indigenous Australian actor and television presenter originating from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia.-Background:...
was "...terrific as Uncle Tadpole...", for Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
who "...brings an idiosyncratic physical energy and an extravagant German accent to the role..." and new comer Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Hilda Mauboy , is an Indigenous Australian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. In 2006, Mauboy was the runner-up on the fourth season of Australian Idol, she had auditioned for the talent show in Alice Springs to pursue a recording career...
brought "...sweetness and confidence to the role of Rosie..."
Accolades
The following is a list of awards that Bran Nue Dae or the cast have been nominated for or won:Wins
- Melbourne International Film FestivalMelbourne International Film FestivalThe Melbourne International Film Festival is an acclaimed annual film festival held over three weeks in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1951, making it one of the oldest in the World....
awards- Audience award for Best Feature
Nominations
- Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
- People's Choice Award
Box office
The film was released to cinema in Australian on 14 January 2010 and had an opening weekend rank of #6, averaging $6,977 at 231 screens for a gross of $1,611,711. It's opening week it grossed $2,531,333 averaging $10,958 for each screen. A mild 33% decrease 2nd weekend brought the film to grossing $3,689,890 in 11 days. The film "has since become one of the Top 50 Australian films of all time at the local box office."Soundtrack
The official soundtrack was released on January 15, 2010.Chart performance
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
29 |