Despite its British director, here making his solo debut in the role, and lead performers, Walkabout is considered one of the first films of the Australian New Wave and introduced the country’s beauty to the wider world. Following a traumatic event, a girl (Jenny Agutter) and her brother (Roeg’s son Lucien) are left alone in the Outback. Ill-equipped to deal with its hardships, they are rescued by an Aboriginal boy (David Gulpilil). Despite the lack of fluency in a common language, the two boys bond, though the girl remains aloof, rebuffing equally the overtures at friendship and romance made to her. Roeg’s film is a children’s adventure film with deeply adult themes of innocence and experience, and of cultures clashing.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of the Australian Dreams season.