High Ground
(Rated MA15+)
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Overview
A tense outback western from director Stephen Maxwell Johnson (Yolngu Boy), High Ground joins the ranks of recent Australian films like Sweet Country and The Nightingale that wrestle with the violence and injustice of our colonial past. Inspired by true events, a brutal massacre at the hands of local police leaves deep scars within an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory in 1919. One of the lone survivors, Gutjuk (Jacob Junior Nayinggul), is taken into the custody of a local mission. Years later, he’s asked by the very police who murdered his family to help track down his uncle Baywara (Sean Mununggurr), who is wanted for a string of crimes against white settlers. Caught between two cultures, Gutjuk must decide whether seemingly sympathetic local policeman Travis (Simon Baker) is worthy of his trust.
Why You Should See This Film
Premiering at the Berlinale in 2020, High Ground has gone on to enjoy a successful run at major Australian film festivals including Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney Film Festival’s recent summer series. The film is worth seeing for newcomer Jacob Junior Nayinggul’s phenomenal performance as Gutjuk alone, which provides the urgent, beating heart of the film.
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- Year: 2020
- Rating: MA15+
- Director: Stephen Maxwell Johnson
- Cast: Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Jack Thompson, Aaron Pedersen
- Duration: 104 minutes
- Language: English, Yolngu Matha
