Vanessa McMahon

By far one of the best and most memorable films for me this past year was, Samson and Delilah (2009), a cinematographic masterpiece. Director Warwick Thornton directs his first feature film after sixteen years as a cinematographer. Set in the Central Australian desert, these two young lovers experience a journey together that will change their lives forever; it is like contemporary Aboriginal rite of passage story.

During a Q and A with the director Warwick Thornton, he sat comfortable with his brown leather cowboy hat, weathered jeans and crocodile skin cowboy boots. A veritable Australian cowboy from the Outback, he was an unforgettable sight of confidence and distinction. He explained first the difference between American and Bollywood films and Australian, that unlike the studio system of the two former film industries, the Australians have a national/independent cinema. Warwick’s Samson and Delilah was filmed in aboriginal language which gave even Australians access to a place in their country they never knew existed. He wanted to show his fellow countrymen and the world the new side to Australia. He describes his film as a ‘classic road movie’; however, I myself would say there is nothing classic about it as I have never seen anything quite like it. He most definitely uses his skills as a cinematographer as it is visually stunning and portrays the Australian Outback in all its organically vibrant colors. But he also achieves the remarkable feat of making a love story between a boy and a girl who barely say a word to each other throughout the entire film. The characters are portrayed through movement, action and song and their love story develops through hardship so that by the end, they have lived a whole life together yet have not hardly spoken or even kissed once. The film is 110 minutes long and yet the script was only 83 pages. Warwick explained that he loves reflexive cinema and wanted to let the audience figure it out, hence the rich visuals and lack of dialogue which he described it as ‘spontaneous filming’. Samson and Delilah was funded by the Australian independent and national film commission and he was given total artistic license for his auteur-ship, a remarkable feat as his film subliminally criticizes the Australian government. He had to fight to get two available screens in the country; however, up against the release of Avatar (2009, Cameron) they still struggle against Hollywood hegemony. He laughs when he admits: “Screen Australia paid me to make them look bad!” Australia’s is a cultural cinema and today the national film funds continue to open their doors to the furthering of indigenous aboriginal films.

Written by, Vanessa McMahon

see movie trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OVPTd1oJpI

stills from Samson and Delilah