Archive

Review of “Bran Nue Dae”

Bran Nue Dae is an over-the-top musical based on the late 1980s Australian play of the same name, about an Aboriginal boy who defies his original destiny and travels across the continent to get back home.

Featuring bisexual singer-songwriter Missy Higgins in a supporting role (and one of the film’s chief singers), it’s a fun, colorful romp through fresh territory.

We follow our title character Willie (Rocky McKenzie) as he hangs out in the tiny town of Broome. He’s a dreamer and a doer, a serious young guy who spends much of his time at boarding school in faraway Perth, where he’s studying to be a priest. He pines for the prettiest girl in town, Rosie (Jessica Mauboy, an Australian Idol runner-up), who herself is pursuing a musical career.

Once at boarding school, Willie lives under the thumb of Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush, in what may be his goofiest role of all time), who secretly sneers at his dark-skinned charges.

When our hero takes the blame for one of his friend’s transgressions, Benedictus goes off on a racist rampage, prompting one of the funniest musical numbers of the film. “There’s nothing I would rather be, than to be an aborigine!” sing the boys, scatting around the somber church. This may be the first — but certainly not the last – truly surreal moment in the film.

Willie runs away and encounters “Uncle Tadpole” (Ernie Dingo), an affable bum who spouts all sorts of wisdom and promises Willie to lead him back home. After taking Willie’s money and spending it on booze, Tadpole does the right thing (in his mind, anyway) and literally runs straight into a passing hippy van, hoping to inspire a guilt trip and a free ride.

Here we meet Slippery (Tom Budge), a wimpy German hippy, and Annie (Missy Higgins, grinning ear-to-ear for most of the film) his super-spiritual girlfriend. Feeling bad about the “accident”, they agree to take our heroes along to Broome. Meanwhile, Benedictus takes off from the school on a search to find his disobedient charge. Everyone races to get to Broome first.

What follows is a zany, colorful chase through the physical and cultural landscape of Australia, including more than a few mishaps along the way. Willie and company encounter a couple of lusty women out on the open road (including the amorous Roxanne played by Deborah Mailman and the gun-toting Roadhouse Betty, played by Magda Szubanski), deal with car troubles, dodge Slippery’s temper and some local wildlife, and have a run-in with the law, all to great comedic effect.

What’s most interesting – and what stays with you long after the credits roll, is the cultural and racial commentary simmering beneath the goofy, candy-colored surface. There is blatant racism (thanks to Father Benedictus), implicit racism, and institutional racism (things get very sober for a while when Willie and Tadpole find themselves in jail).

The film pokes fun at everyone, no matter his or her background, but while it’s kicking its proverbial heels, it’s clearly making noise of a different (and altogether more serious) kind.

Particularly important is the sole solemn dance scene – prompted by Willie and Tadpole’s jail stay in a rusty outdoor cell. Tadpole comforts Willie, who’s heard stories of Aboriginal people dying in prison.

Following this is a sober, dark dance number, incorporating traditional dance and dress, with a very clear, confrontational message about oppression. It’s powerful and thoroughly unexpected, given the goofy tone of the rest of the movie.

The cast absolutely makes Bran Nue Dae, which without astounding amounts of energy and raw talent, this sort of production would fall flat. Thankfully, everyone from the core group of road-trippers to the quickest of the cameos is spot-on.

Missy Higgins is wonderful as Annie, especially considering that this is her very first silver screen role. She spends much of the film in full-on hippy-dippy caricature, complete with Buddhist prayer beads and a love of skinny-dipping. In the hands of a lesser performer, Annie would be thoroughly annoying, but Higgins commits so completely to the role (and sings so beautifully) that it becomes impossible not to like her.

Also a newcomer to the screen, Mauboy absolutely tears it up as Rosie, with an astounding voice and stage presence. One wonders how she finished second on Australian Idol, with such obvious talent.

Worth a special mention is Ernie Dingo, who reprises his role as Uncle Tadpole from the original stage play. A famous performer in Australia, he’s completely lovable and hilarious as his mischievous and world-weary character.

It almost goes without saying that the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. The songs are as colorful, bouncy, and genuinely soulful as the film is, with a few aforementioned forays into heavier material.

While the movie is very much targeted to an Australian audience (with plenty of Aussie slang, cultural references and in-jokes), the humor translates incredibly well for international viewers, a point that director Rachel Perkins was delighted to make when screening the premiere at Sundance this year. It’s a genuine hoot for all viewers who like to get their jazz hands on, no matter your background.

For lesbian/bi audiences, come for Missy Higgins, stay for the rip-roaring music and hilarious presentation. If nothing else, it’s sure to get us ready for next year’s full-on lesbian musical, Girltrash.

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button