Backbencher

Walkabout is a film about the cultural encounter of a city girl and her younger brother who meet an aborigine boy on a "walkabout", a six month journey that will end with his entry into manhood (but not in this case). The film is bizarre from the start, and if, and that is a big if, there is a purpose to this film it seems the director wants to portray this clash of civilizations: city life vs. outback life. As we see throughout the film, both are harsh ways of life in their own ways. Something in the city drives the father of the white girl and her brother to kill himself. Likewise, the aborigine boy struggles with his journey into the outback. As the film progresses, it is apparent that the aborigine wants to help the girl and boy find their way back to the city. The journey to this end and the end of the aborigine's walkabout make up the plot of the film.

There are not many redeeming qualities to this film, in my opinion. The only value I see for students of Australia is the detailed depiction of the outback, the harsh conditions, wildlife, and topography. There also might be a theme that seems to be to contrast city and outback life, but this theme develops oddly, and the film is so couched with symbolism and melodrama that the viewer just becomes annoyed at the director and rejects the message. The plot moves painfully slowly, with characterization limited because of language barriers. Unnecessary nudity and occasional gruesome scenes of people and wildlife add nothing to the film.

My overall impressions of this film were summed up when the aborigine boy is dancing. The white boy asks, "What's he dancing for?" No one knows. This is a common theme in this film. Things happen for no apparent reason or purpose, and the viewer is left to put together a puzzle with about 5% of the necessary pieces.