Bran Nue Dae is a charming new Australianbased, musicdriven road movie/romantic comedy starring Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush that literally bursts onto the screen with unbridled energy and fun. Loosely based on one of Australia's most beloved and popular musicals, Bran Nue Dae is a foot stomping tourdeforce centering on the romantic adventures of a young aboriginal couple set against the spectacularly beautiful Australian landscape.
Main characters
Rocky McKenzie as Willie, the film's protagonist. A rebellious teenage boy who escapes the Catholic Mission inperth to return to his home in broome
Geoffrey Rush as Father Benedictus, the film's antagonist. As a strict German priest who runs the Catholic Mission in Perth training young men to become priests, he pursues Willie who ran away from the school. The part for Father Benedictus was offered to Rush by director Perkins.
Tom Budge as Slippery, a German hippie tourist travelling with his girlfriend Annie in a Kombi van
Missy Higgins as Annie, Slippery's spiritual girlfriend who is travelling with him to Perth. This is Higgins' acting debut.
Ernie Dingo as Uncle Tadpole, a drunk who accompanies Willie on his adventure. Dingo played the role of Uncle Tadpole in the original production of the stage play Bran Nue Dae in 1989.
Jessica Mauboyas Rosie, an aspiring singer and the love of Willie's life.Mauboy, who was runner-up in the fourth season of Australian Idol, makes her acting debut.
Deborah Mailman Roxanne
Ningali Lawford as Theresa, Willie's mother. Ningali is one of the cast members from the original 1989 stage production of Bran Nue Dae.
Stephen "Baamba" Albert as Pastor Flaggon. Stephen is also one of the cast members from the original 1989 stage production of Bran Nue Dae.
Dan Sultan as Lester, the local band leader who finds himself in love with Rosie.
Cameos
Magda Szubanskias Roadhouse Betty, the frisky owner of a Roadhouse.
Release
Bran Nue Dae made its debut at the Melbourne International Film Festival on its closing night on 8 August 2009.The film made its international debut at the Toronto International Film Festival at the Scotiabank Theatre on 12 September 2009.The film will be among the lineup of out-of-competition films to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. The film made its official theatrical premiere at the Sun Pictures theatre in Broome, Western Australia on 8 December 2009 where the stars of the film walked a "red dirt" carpet.In the lead up to the premiere on the day stars of the film Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, Missy Higgins and Ernie Dingo put on a public performance with the Kuckles band in Broome's Chinatown.
Critical reception
Dennis Harvey of Variety said "it retains that dated once-almost-hip look like Up With People..." but it contained "...blandly stereotypical characters in a trite road-trip narrative..." and in regards to younger audiences claimed "There's scant real dancing, mostly forgettable, showtune-type songs and no ethnic authenticity."Craig Mathieson of SBS Films commented that "Bran Nue Dae has a daffy, garish energy that's reflected in brisk pacing and up-tempo tunes". On director Rachel Perkins he stated "Visually Perkins is not a natural fit for this material..." comparing it to her 1998 feature, Radiance but "...here she enthusiastically takes to the moments of farce and productions numbers." In terms of choreography the "... frames feel cluttered, with an occasional echo of the amped-up musical melodrama..." but ending it on a positive note with "... like another Australian musical... Bran Nue Dae carries the day with energy and self-belief."The Age's Philippa Hawker praised the cast stating Ernie Dingo was "...terrific as Uncle Tadpole...",[16] for Geoffrey Rush who "...brings an idiosyncratic physical energy and an extravagant German accent to the role..." and new comer Jessica Mauboy brought "...sweetness and confidence to the role of Rosie..."
Plot
In Broome in 1969, William 'Willie' Johnson is having trouble wooing his girl Rosie, who ends up with another man. His mother sends him back to boarding school (filmed at Clontarf College in Perth) to continue his education for the priesthood. One night, he and several others steal food from the college kitchen but are caught. Willie admits to being the thief, but runs away before he can be punished.
He spends the night on the streets of Perth before meeting up with 'Uncle' Tadpole, who offers to help him get home. They go to Fremantle where Tadpole allows himself to be run over by a Kombi van, hoping that the two hippies inside will help him. Not realizing how far it will be to Broome, the hippies, 'Slippery' the German and Annie his girlfriend, agree to drive them.
Father Benedictus, head of the College, has seen Willie's potential and determines to locate him; through Tadpole's homeless friends he learns that Willie is heading to Broome.
The travellers drive north, stopping at a roadhouse where Willie meets the tarty 'Roadhouse Betty'. Tadpole steals some food, nearly causing them to get shot by Betty, but they escape. Slippery becomes disillusioned, and leaves Willie and Tadpole behind in the middle of nowhere; Tadpole curses the hippies by pointing a bone, and the van promptly breaks down.
Willie then gets a ride with a passing truck carrying the members of a football team. They end up in Port Hedland where he meets flirty Roxanne, who takes him to the 'condom tree' and offers to 'show him a good time'. But her boyfriend turns up and a fight ensues. Willie is rescued by Tadpole, who says that all young men end up there at some point.
Next morning, they are driving along a desert road when a hung-over Roxanne emerges from the back seat, startling everyone. While smoking some pot, they are discovered by police and arrested. At the police station, Slippery reveals that his real name is Wolfgang Bendictus.
They are released next morning, and drive on to Broome, where they go to the bar where Rosie is performing. Willie tries win her back, but ends up in a fight with her new boyfriend Lester, only to be disrupted by a church temperance march, which invites everyone to the beach to testify.
At the beach, Willie's mother reveals that she had a son to another man, who turns out to be Father Benedictus. Wolfgang is their son. Tadpole is spotted by Willie's mother, and she tells Willie that he is Tadpole's son.
