Wake In Fright (1971 - Scene) (Morphology) #shorts #scene #movie
#shorts #scene #movie
If you are looking for a movie that will challenge your perception of Australia and its culture, you might want to watch Wake In Fright, a 1971 film directed by Ted Kotcheff and based on a novel by Kenneth Cook. Wake In Fright is a psychological thriller that follows the descent of a schoolteacher into madness and violence in a remote outback town.
The protagonist of the film is John Grant, a young and educated man who works as a teacher in a small town called Tiboonda, where he feels isolated and bored. He is eager to leave his post and visit his girlfriend in Sydney, but he has to spend a night in Bundanyabba, or "the Yabba", a mining town that serves as a transit point for travelers. There, he meets Jock Crawford, a friendly but intimidating policeman who introduces him to the local customs of drinking, gambling and hunting. John loses all his money in a game of two-up, a coin-tossing game that is popular among the locals. He becomes stranded in the Yabba, where he is exposed to the brutal and depraved lifestyle of the inhabitants, who seem to have no other purpose than to drink themselves into oblivion and indulge in senseless violence.
John's ordeal becomes worse when he meets Doc Tydon, a former doctor who has become an alcoholic and lives in a shack with no amenities. Doc takes John on a kangaroo hunting trip with his friends, where they shoot and kill real animals in a graphic and disturbing scene that caused controversy when the film was released. John also has a sexual encounter with Janette, the daughter of one of Doc's friends, who is treated as a sex object by everyone in the town. John gradually loses his sense of identity and morality, and becomes more like the people he despises. He tries to escape from the Yabba several times, but he always ends up returning to it, as if trapped by some invisible force.
Wake In Fright is not a typical horror film, but it is certainly horrifying in its depiction of human nature and society. The film shows how a civilized and rational man can be corrupted and degraded by his environment and circumstances, and how thin the line between civilization and barbarism is. The film also explores the themes of class, masculinity, colonialism and nationalism in Australia, and how they shape the attitudes and behaviors of the characters. The film portrays the outback as a harsh and hostile place, where life is cheap and meaningless, and where the colonial legacy of exploitation and violence still lingers.
The film was critically acclaimed when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971, where it was nominated for the Grand Prix du Festival. However, it was a commercial failure in Australia, where it was poorly marketed and received negative reactions from audiences who felt offended by its portrayal of their country. The film was also banned or censored in some countries for its graphic violence and nudity. The film was almost lost for decades, until its original negative was found and restored by editor Anthony Buckley in 2004. The film was re-released in 2009 to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, who recognized its artistic merit and cultural significance. The film is now considered one of the best Australian films ever made, and one of the most influential films of the Australian New Wave movement.
Wake In Fright is not an easy film to watch, but it is a powerful and unforgettable one. It will make you question your assumptions about Australia and yourself, and it will leave you with a lasting impression of horror and awe.
Kangaroos come to mind
A great hunt on the land
Tracking them down
With a trusty hand
The kangaroos are quick
And can hop far and wide
But with a little skill
They will soon hide
When you find them you must be quick
To keep up with their deadly kick
If you want to catch them alive
You need to find a way to trick
So grab your gun and aim with pride
And head out in the bush to find your prize