Bran Nue Dae

Bran Nue Dae

You will love it or hate it. This Australian film is very unique. It is part musical and part road show. The unusual aspect is that the cast members are aboriginals. The action takes place in a small rural town called Broome. The time is 1969.

Willie is a handsome youth living with his religious mother. They live in a one room shack. Her dream is for Willie to become a priest and sends him to a school in Perth under the leadership of a mean terrible headmaster brilliantly played by Geoffrey Rush.

Willie doesn’t want to leave Broome because he has a crush on the adorable Rosie. She can really sing a tune. Willie is too shy to express his true love. Rosie gets involved with a dude who plays in the local bar. He promises her love and allows her to sing at the bar.

While at school in Perth Willie stands up for a young boy who was having difficulty with the terrible headmaster. Willie confesses to something he didn’t do to spare the young boy getting severely punished. Willie runs away.

Most of the film shows the hippie couple he meets on the way and the trials and tribulations they face on route to return to Broome. They meet bizarre characters who all tag along on the journey back home. It is very silly but also funny.

The characters are hilarious. They are all so ‘over the top.’

In some ways this film reminds me of a Bollywood film because just at the most tense moment one of the characters will bust into song. All the actors have fine voices and it is all in good fun. I loved the song “I Would Rather Be An Aborigine.” I felt like getting up and dancing in the aisle.

The ending is so ridiculous that you can’t help laughing. It is a rollicking good time.

The film was based on a stage play from 20 years ago. It is amazing that it still works. I think the aboriginal aspect adds a lot to the film.