Review of Walkabout (1971) by Daniel K — 31 May 2010

4: I don't think I fully understood everything in this film, at least not after the first viewing. I may be overrating it, but I'm confident I'm not far off in calling the film a masterpiece, as well as the greatest picture ever to come out of Australia, at least of those that I've seen.

One could classify it as an avant garde picture. It certainly borrows from directors like Eisenstein, Antonioni, and the French Nouvelle Vague. The juxtaposition of sex and death, as well as the numerous unusual auditory outbursts and jump cuts between seemingly unrelated frames is quite thought provoking and structurally surprising.

I hate films that hit one over the head with their themes and belabor the obvious or try to prove their point through dialogue, at least I usually do. Happily, this falls into the category of film that attempts to draw broad and universal conclusions through the use and juxtaposition of images.

It does so by laser-focusing itself on these very specific characters in a seemingly entirely authentic, and beautiful, environment. The director subtly points the audience towards themes and conclusions having to do with the nature of civilization, sexuality, the purpose of life, the nature do the food we eat, etc with hardly any dialogue.

I could definitely foresee the two kids rude and ridiculous treatment at the hands of the "civilized" inhabitants at the end of their walkabout. They were much better treated in the heart of the outback.

Jenny Agutter is perfectly cast and is a large part of why I enjoyed the picture so much. In terms of young actresses being extraordinary on screen, she isn't as beautiful and alluring as Olivia Hussey was in Romeo and Juliet, but she isn't far off.

She is mesmerizing and makes it impossible to look away from the scene, even as we're confronted with the bloody killing of kangaroos, lizards, rabbits, etc. This is definitely the kind of film I need to see again to even begin to solidify my thoughts.