Bran Nue Dae

Director: Rachel Perkins
Cast: Rocky McKenzie, Geoffrey Rush, Ernie Dingo, Magda Szubanski, Deborah Mailman and Jessica Mauboy
DVD release: 20 May 2010
Rated: PG

When you think ‘musical’, what usually comes to mind? People from the sixties, using way too much hairspray and a never-ending number of cheesy smiles? Drag queens going on a road trip around the Land Down Under? Dancing felines? Well, Bran Nue Dae includes all of this (minus the dancing cats).

The story of Bran Nue Dae comes from the original stage production, which revolves around a young man’s journey home. Willy (Rocky McKenzie) is a young Aboriginal man whose devout mother (Ningali Lawford) sends him to a Catholic boarding school in Perth (where he is a school prefect) in hopes he will become a priest. But after getting caught by the strict Fr Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush) stealing food from the cafeteria, he runs away from school and aims to get back to his home town of Broome.

Along the way, he meets Tadpole (Ernie Dingo); hippie couple, Annie (Missy Higgins) and Slippery (Tom Budge); Roadhouse Betty (Magda Szubanski) and Roxanne (Deborah Mailman), who all help him to get home to see his mother, his girl Rosie (Jessica Mauboy) and, unfortunately, his rival for Rosie’s heart, Lester (Dan Sultan).

This brightly coloured musical set in the 1960s is about love, jealousy, family and coming home. It includes 24 original songs and a diverse range of actors, from the experienced Geoffrey Rush and Magda Szubanski to singers Jessica Mauboy and Missy Higgins. It makes for an interesting mix of characters and personalities. I believe that this film is heartfelt and warm, but the ending doesn’t seem complete, because it includes a ‘deus ex machina’ element.

The film is directed by Rachel Perkins, who does a good job. I enjoyed the way the movie really zipped along.

The acting was great from the cast. Rocky McKenzie steals the show as Willy, while Geoffrey Rush and Ernie Dingo are both funny in their parts. Singers Jessica Mauboy and Missy Higgins are also good, although they spend more time singing rather than actually acting.

Overall, I really enjoyed Bran Nue Dae and I think anyone who likes musicals will too. It’s a very Australian film, and it’s great to see so much local talent on show. If you like to come out of the movies with a smile on your face, this is the film for you.

Gaby Edwards (age 14)