Review of Samson and Delilah (2009) by Geoff S — 07 Jun 2009

Truly a bitter sweet love story. Set against a backdrop of absolute hopelessness, much like the harshness of the Australian central desert in which most of the film is set. Yet, just as with its desert surroundings where life springs up against all odds, so too does the love between the central characters as the story unfolds.

It's an amazing film on all levels of production. What little dialogue there is, is purely incidental. In the desert it would seem that words are like water, use what little one has sparingly. Despite this, McNamara and Gibson under Thornton's direction deliver absolute stunning character development! Marissa Gibson's performance is especially breath taking.

It certainly makes one question one's treatment (both as a collective and as an individual) of Australia's indigenous peoples as well as those who have fallen on hard times. It would be hoped that a film such as this would gain the same global critical and box office acclaim as did "Slumdog Millionaire".

This is one film that should not be missed.