Vanessa McMahon

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"Charlie's Country" (2014) by Dutch/Australian director Rolf de Heer screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Australian actor David Gulpilil won the prize for Best Actor.

“Charlie's Country” tells the story of 'Blackfella Charlie', an aboriginal man who is marginalized and discriminated against by domineering whites in his Australian village. The police are always on his back to forget his traditional ways- he is one of the last surviving natives of his land- and adapt to modern life, but all Charlie can think of is getting back home and living as he was raised in his mother's country. Charlie lives in a small shack and refuses to eat the processed grocery store food of the white man; his dream is the hunt and the dance of his forefathers. No matter how good he and his friends behave and abide the laws, they are continuously disenfranchised and punished by the white Australian police who ban their hunting guns and sticks, steal their cars, take their smoke, and last but not least, steal and misuse the land which Charlie reminds them once belonged to him and his people. One day, Charlie has had enough so he decides to return to his homeland and to the old ways. Charlie learns much on this lonely and perilous coming-of-age journey that leads him to starvation, alcoholism and even prison. When all seems lost and clear that the old ways are gone forever, will Charlie learn a way to preserve the past he loves so much and find a reason for living?

Renowned and beloved actor David Gulpilil has been acting for some 45 years ever since his breakout role in the 1971 film "Walkabout" by director Nicolas Roeg. A professional dancer as well, Gulpilil continues to act and dance successfully. In May 2014, he took home the prize for Best Actor in the Un Certain Regard category of the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

View scene from film here:

Trailer here:

Actor David Gulpilil

Review written by Vanessa McMahon.