Walkabout, 1971 classic by Nicolas Roeg

Very few films achieve a kind of subliminal greatness with cross-cultural impact, but Walkabout is one of those films--a visual tone poem that functions more as an allegory than a conventionally plotted adventure.

Considered a cult favorite for years, Nicolas Roeg's 1971 film is about two British children who are rescued in the Australian outback by a young Aboriginal man played by David Gulpilil.

Through exquisite cinematography and a story of subtle human complexity, the film continues to resonate on many thematic and artistic levels. Roeg had always intended it to be a cautionary morality tale, in which the limitations and restrictions of civilization become painfully clear when the two children (played by Jenny Agutter and Roeg's young son, Lucien John) cannot survive without the Aboriginal man's assistance. They become 'primitives' themselves, if only temporarily, while the young Aboriginal man proves ultimately and tragically unable to join the "family" of civilization. With its story of two worlds colliding, Walkabout now seems like a film for the ages, hypnotic and open to several compelling levels of interpretation.

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Category:

Film & Animation

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[stratluvr]

this film is great and how could you not fall in love with Jenny ,the naked swimming scene is very sexy ,maybe I'm old but I think that women looked better before they started to shave ,get tatoos,piercings and workout so they have muscles like men, women looked WAY BETTER back then and Jenny is proof of that

[pastorrtom]

Is she stupid?!? "WE NEED SOMETHING TO DRINK. I CANT MAKE IT ANY SIMPLER!" doesnt she realize he doesnt speak english?

The kid onthe other hand, he uses BODY language! Intelligent kid!

[kimokaker]

@pastorrtom Holy fuck. Who's stupid?? It's a movie you dick. The part is written to show the dim arrogance of a white Australian actually condescending (big word for you I know) to a native aporiginal. Y'know, a REAL Auastralian? Christ. Try and play along genius.

[STONEBEADMAKER]

EVERYTHING about this movie is perfect, and the soundtrack is really strong....Yes...Jenny is....rather convincing shall we say, but the true erotic tension is carried by Roeg's camera angles in the quick leg shots, particularly the very first one , as she takes the picnic basket out of the car. SUCH A POWERFUL MONOLOGUE AT THE END, as she unfortunately ''settles for the typical whitebread punk'', and what a lesson we have to learn from that. LISTEN UP GIRLS !! FERAL GUYS ONLY!!

[ariesscorpiorising]

@stratluvr Nah! Women are just as good looking as they always were, with or without muscles or tattoos/ piercings. I DO, however, miss a full unshaven bush. A nice untrimmed UBERMUFF is always good. ;D

[gordonboot]

Pic up a little Desert Lingo :) love it.. thanks dude

[TheRockandroll420]

Im15 I just watched this it was groovy ill tell you that.

[belinda2118]

That is his mating dance. He has paint on his pole. All natural except totally different cultures. So he kills himself.

[JaiUneGuruDeja]

@WonderWomanFan4life Yeah, us white folk are all screwed up. But, you gotta admit, we make great movies about our screwed up selves and some of our woman, e.g. Jenny Agutter, are smokin' hot.

[JaiUneGuruDeja]

@vrikey I'd say you've made a rock solid case. He killed himself after he was sacked.  I've been sacked and didn't loose my head. It must have been a particularly unfair sacking that sent him over the brink.

[JaiUneGuruDeja]

@vrikey Or maybe she just traded a vulnerable ecstacy for safe numbness and regretted her decision 'til the end of her days.

[meadowlane37]

This is a beautiful film. Some great shots of the Australian landscape and so many different elements come together to produce a film thats just very good.