Stories from Life - Brian McFarlane
Review: The Travellers and Kangaroo
In the past few weeks, two new Australian films have quietly emerged, drawing well-deserved attention. "Kangaroo" and "The Travellers" are both modest, sensitive works, thoughtfully written and directed. Each film blends moments of humor and poignancy and is presented with restraint—a rarity in much of Australian cinema.
These films differ significantly from classics like "The Man from Snowy River" or the action-packed "Mad Max." Instead, they offer a gentle and understated approach.
Kangaroo: A Charmer from Kate Woods
Kate Woods, primarily known for her television work and her 2000 film "Looking for Alibrandi," returns to cinema with "Kangaroo." The film captivates with its semi-biographical telling of a man’s journey, exploring how life’s preoccupations can change profoundly over time. Rather than a standard biopic, the film opens with the statement that it is “inspired” by a true story.
Opening Episodes and Characters
- The first sequence takes place before the film's title appears. It introduces a young Indigenous girl, later known as Charlie (Lily Whiteley), sprinting across a vast Australian outback landscape alongside kangaroos.
The film’s warmth and subtlety are embodied by performances from Luke Bracey, Brian Brown, and Susie Porter in "The Travellers."
Warmth and subtlety: Luke Bracey, Brian Brown and Susie Porter in The Travellers.
It is not a conventional biopic but, as an opening title says, it was “inspired” by a true story.
Summary
These two Australian films, "Kangaroo" and "The Travellers," offer quietly powerful storytelling, rich character work, and a genuine sense of place, setting them apart from traditional national cinema.
Two opening episodes introduce the film’s protagonists.
Author’s Resume: Both films present unique, heartfelt perspectives on Australian life, skillfully balancing humor and emotion in a style uncommon for the region’s cinema.