Cinema
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
Fred Schepisi · 1978
Synopsis
At the turn of the twentieth century, in New South Wales, Jimmie Blacksmith, the son of an Aboriginal woman and a white man, is raised and taught by a Methodist minister, the Reverend Neville, and his wife, who hope to open up a better life for him. Armed with a letter of recommendation, he looks for work, but finds only menial jobs and each time has his wages stolen. For a time employed by a policeman, he is ashamed of it and leaves. He marries a white servant, Gilda, then works for the Newbys, who in turn mistreat him.
Context
The film adapts a novel published in 1972, inspired by the Jimmy Governor affair of 1900. Tommy Lewis, who had never acted, was discovered at Melbourne airport by the director's wife, and most of the Aboriginal performers were amateurs. With a budget of 1.2 million dollars, provided by the Australian Film Commission, the Victorian Film Corporation, Hoyts and the director himself, it was the most expensive Australian film of its time; shooting began on 8 August 1977 and lasted fourteen weeks. It earned 1.021 million dollars in Australia, of which only 50,000 went to the producers, and its author, who had lost his stake in it, left for Hollywood.
Who it is for
A film in English from Australia, very violent in its second half, shortened for international release.
Prizes and reception
In official competition at Cannes in 1978, where it received an ovation; for Pauline Kael, a requiem for the lost honour of a nation.
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