BRAN NUE DAE is an utterly delightful new musical with an Indigenous Australian cast that is a sensational showcase of Aboriginal/Islander talent. Set in Broome in NW West Australia with spectacular natural scenery, BRAN NUE DAE revels in its silliness, sense of fun, community and absolute zinger talent. It is a musical road trip set in 1969 about a funny romantic schoolboy who falls in love and discovers hilarious family truths. It also clearly shows how photogenic our Aboriginal teens are, and with young-Elvis-like Rocky Mackenzie as Willie in a screen debut with gorgeous Jessica Mauboy as the focus, we are swept along for raucous dusty fun. It will appeal to cinema audiences as PRISCILLA did in revealing the beauty of Australian deserts and with top stars Geoffrey Rush and Magda Szubanski as key white talent in showstopper roles, the film has the broadest possible appeal. The songs are memorable and the imagery truly beautiful. BRAN NUE DAE is a tad edited down and short at 88 minutes, but that only means I wanted more. It is by turns hilarious, poignant and always visually stunning whether it be the faces or the landscape. If this is that start to a new decade in Oz film making, then I want more. No more dumb desert murder films. Lets go for fun and happiness and music music music. Ernie Dingo plays it like Uncle Remus and scores the best laughs.
Review of Bran Nue Dae
