Ruqayyah Snyder
Charlie's Country was predominantly filmed in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory of Australia. The film's first screening took place in Ramingining, Arnhem Land, where much of the film was shot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Charlie's Country |
| Year | 2013 |
| Genre | Adventure, Drama |
| Language | English and Yolngu (subtitled) |
| Film Locations | Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Ramingining, Adelaide Film Festival |
| Film's International Premiere | Un Certain Regard at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival |
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What You'll Learn
Arnhem Land, Northern Territory
The 2013 film Charlie's Country was shot on location in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The film is an exploration of Indigenous experience in Australia and the tensions between white law and Indigenous culture.
Arnhem Land is a remote Aboriginal community in Northern Australia, where Charlie, played by David Gulpilil, lives. The character of Charlie is getting older and is frustrated by the government's intervention in his community and the enforcement of 'white fella' rules. For example, the police confiscate his gun and spear, leaving him with nothing to hunt with. As a result, Charlie decides to leave the town and head into the bush to live the old way.
The film's director, Rolf de Heer, has described how the film came about due to his friend and collaborator, Gulpilil's, struggles with alcohol and time in jail. The film is partly based on Gulpilil's life experiences and was devised while he was in rehab. Gulpilil is an Aboriginal Australian dancer who has appeared in several films, including 'Walkabout', 'The Last Wave', and 'Crocodile Dundee'.
Charlie's Country was first screened in Arnhem Land, with a riotous open-air bush screening in Ramingining. The film received positive reviews and won the Best Actor award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for Gulpilil's performance.
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Ramingining
The community is also home to Bula'bula Arts, one of Australia's most significant art centres, established in the 1980s. Bula'bula Arts is a Yolngu-owned, not-for-profit organisation that aims to preserve and foster Yolngu culture. The art centre is owned by the Bula'bula Arts Aboriginal Corporation (BAAC), which also owns the Mona Lodge, a three-bedroom house available for visitors to book when staying in Ramingining.
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Adelaide Film Festival
The 2013 Australian drama film Charlie's Country was shot on location in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The film was first screened in the bush in Ramingining, where much of it was shot. It was then screened at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2013, where it won the audience award for the most popular feature.
The film was directed by Rolf de Heer and stars David Gulpilil, who also co-wrote the film. It is the third collaboration between the two, after The Tracker and Ten Canoes. The film follows Gulpilil's character, an Aboriginal man named Charlie, who is getting older and is out of sorts. He lives in a government-controlled rural community in Arnhem Land, where he struggles with the Intervention's "white fella" rules. For example, he is told by a doctor to stop eating the only food available in town. When his gun and spear are confiscated, he heads into the bush to live the old way.
The film highlights the unworkable imbalance between white law and Indigenous culture in the Northern Territory. It is mainly spoken in English and Yolngu (an indigenous Australian language) and is subtitled. It has been praised for its cinematography, with one reviewer noting that the "widescreen photography immerses the viewer in the Australian outback". Another reviewer wrote that the film is a "reminder of how Australia's indigenous population lives".
Charlie's Country has received generally positive reviews, with a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 7.6/10. It has also screened at the Human Rights Film Festival Zurich and the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Actor award for Gulpilil.
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Provincial capital of Darwin
The 2013 Australian drama film Charlie's Country tells the story of an Aboriginal man's trials and tribulations of life in a white man's world. The film was shot in Ramingining in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, where the film is also set. The film's protagonist, Charlie, lives in a government-controlled rural community in Arnhem Land.
Arnhem Land is a vast, sparsely populated region in the Northern Territory, known for its Aboriginal rock art and cultural heritage. It is located in the northeastern corner of the territory, bordering the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Arafura Sea. The region is known for its tropical climate and diverse landscapes, including rainforests, savannah woodlands, and coastal areas.
Ramingining is a remote Aboriginal community located in Arnhem Land, about 560 kilometres east of Darwin, the provincial capital of the Northern Territory. Ramingining is accessible only by air or four-wheel-drive vehicle during the dry season. It is home to a diverse range of Aboriginal language groups, including Yolngu, Kunwinjku, and Maung people.
Darwin, the provincial capital, serves as a cultural and economic hub for the region. It is a modern and diverse city with a strong Indigenous presence and a tropical climate. Darwin offers a range of attractions, including museums, art galleries, and outdoor markets. The city is also known for its vibrant festivals, such as the Darwin Festival and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, which celebrate the region's diverse cultural heritage.
The film Charlie's Country highlights the tensions between Indigenous culture and government intervention in the Northern Territory. As Charlie struggles to adapt to the government's "white fella" rules, he eventually leaves his community to live a traditional life in the bush. However, he is forced to return to his community and eventually makes his way to Darwin, where he continues his journey towards reclaiming his Indigenous identity.
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South Australia
The reviewer goes on to say that the film represents the Northern Territory at its worst, with harsh weather conditions such as humidity, rain, and harsh sunny days.
The film was also shot in Ramingining in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, where it had its first open-air screening. Arnhem Land is a government-controlled rural community, and the film's first image is of a Liquor Act sign, indicating that it is an alcohol-restricted community.
Charlie's Country is a collaboration between Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil and director Rolf de Heer, exploring the Indigenous experience in Australia. The film highlights the imbalance between white law and Indigenous culture in the Northern Territory.
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Frequently asked questions
Charlie's Country was filmed in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. The film had its first open-air screening in Ramingining, where much of it was shot.
The film was screened at the Adelaide Film Festival in October 2013.
The film is about an Aboriginal community in northern Australia and how government intervention has impacted their traditional way of life.
