This film was truly exceptional, though I think that to truly appreciate it you need to be, or have lived in Australia. A lot of beautiful shots and sound effects, felt like a documentary sometimes but this added to the film and didn't ruin the pacing. You always heard the sound of the wind and the birds, a lot of effort was put into this to make you feel like you were always out bush. Would highly recommend.
62 Reviews
Simple story in astonishing sorroundings
Alexander_Blanchett23 February 2020
Truly a magnificant modern western Setting in Australia. It is built up as a Revenge Thriller which gives the whole Thing a totally different touch and a nice Twist. The Story is simple but the sorroundings and the history behind it is what makes the film Special and exciting. The acting was very good, too. Simon Baker shined in a totally different Kind of role, far away from the Pretty Boy or Mentalist times. It was a great opportunity to Showcase him as a leading man for Cinema too. Its Always great to see Jack Thompson, especially in Projects all his heart and Soul are involved with as it was in this. The true discovery however is Jacob Junior Nayinggul who was absolutely breathtaking in his first leading role and a true discovery. I hope we get the opportunity to see much more of him in the future. Another fantastic aspect of the film was the fantastic cinematography and capture of pure nature. It actually made it look like nature Played an important supporting role in this and it Kind of did.
Really a very good ´film, important to see also for ist cultural aspects.
Always Take The High Ground...
WalkdenEntertainment16 December 2020
Inspired by real events.
The film is set in the 1930s, North Australia. High Ground follows two men who both have a past filled with pain and hurt. Travis (Simon Baker) is a gun for hire and a skilled bounty hunter. Daily, he is filled with guilt and is haunted by his dark past. He also seeks redemption for his wrongdoings. The second man is a young indigenous man named Gutjuk (Jacob Junior Nayinggul), whose past includes witnessing his own family get brutally murdered when he was just a young boy. From being a sole survivor as a child, Gutjukwas taken away from his village and put under the care of another. As Gutjuk becomes a young man, he receives word that his uncle, Baywara, is still alive and is currently a wanted man for crimes around the Northern Territory. Now, both Travis and Gutjuk will team up and work together to try to save the last of his family. The question is, can these two men work together, trust one another, and find peace from their dark past?
High Ground is a brutal film and a gritty revenge tale. I cannot deny the film can be unsettling at moments due to the dramatic themes and because its story is based on actual events. The action here is also quite violent and realistic. The visuals and filming style are a knockout. Filming styles, including close-ups and use of drones or overhead shots, have been used to show off Australian landscape and animals. The sound design and effects are brilliant. Sounds such as gunshots and other environmental noises (such as grass, wind, bees, birds) are all positives in the film. The sound effects here also help create added tension and suspense during critical moments.
Performances are solid, particularly from Jacob Junior Nayingul as Gutjak. Gutjak as a character is dealing with many challenges as a young man, along with having to make hard choices such as who can he trust and which side should he take. Other actors including Simon Baker, Jack Thompson, Aaron Pedersen and Callan Mulvey all bring something fresh, and I feel they were rather convincing on screen.
The film begins with a gruesome, heartbreaking first act, and a general plot is set up shortly after. The film's pace for me would best be described as a slow-burning revenge tale, and it is filled with unpredictable and tense moments. The pacing, while it is slow, never felt dull. I will admit there was a moment in the film that felt like a final climax, but to my surprise a final, second climax was yet to come. Some edits also seemed questionable as scenes ended and suddenly cut to a shot of birds flying. Moments like this felt out of place and abrupt. While images of animals certainly look real for most of the film, there was one moment, including flying birds which did make me question if it was CGI and not real.
Overall, this is a gruesome and gritty revenge tale which is based on actual events. The film's plot is engaging and unpredictable. Performances are stable, and the film's visuals along with all the use of sound effects are equally impressive. As the credits rolled, I was generally left feeling rather impressed and touched by what I had witnessed in my cinema. I was also surrounded by the silence of other viewers. While it is filled with unsettling moments, it's certainly an Australian film worth supporting on the big screen.
7.1/10 - Walkden Entertainment
The film is set in the 1930s, North Australia. High Ground follows two men who both have a past filled with pain and hurt. Travis (Simon Baker) is a gun for hire and a skilled bounty hunter. Daily, he is filled with guilt and is haunted by his dark past. He also seeks redemption for his wrongdoings. The second man is a young indigenous man named Gutjuk (Jacob Junior Nayinggul), whose past includes witnessing his own family get brutally murdered when he was just a young boy. From being a sole survivor as a child, Gutjukwas taken away from his village and put under the care of another. As Gutjuk becomes a young man, he receives word that his uncle, Baywara, is still alive and is currently a wanted man for crimes around the Northern Territory. Now, both Travis and Gutjuk will team up and work together to try to save the last of his family. The question is, can these two men work together, trust one another, and find peace from their dark past?
High Ground is a brutal film and a gritty revenge tale. I cannot deny the film can be unsettling at moments due to the dramatic themes and because its story is based on actual events. The action here is also quite violent and realistic. The visuals and filming style are a knockout. Filming styles, including close-ups and use of drones or overhead shots, have been used to show off Australian landscape and animals. The sound design and effects are brilliant. Sounds such as gunshots and other environmental noises (such as grass, wind, bees, birds) are all positives in the film. The sound effects here also help create added tension and suspense during critical moments.
Performances are solid, particularly from Jacob Junior Nayingul as Gutjak. Gutjak as a character is dealing with many challenges as a young man, along with having to make hard choices such as who can he trust and which side should he take. Other actors including Simon Baker, Jack Thompson, Aaron Pedersen and Callan Mulvey all bring something fresh, and I feel they were rather convincing on screen.
The film begins with a gruesome, heartbreaking first act, and a general plot is set up shortly after. The film's pace for me would best be described as a slow-burning revenge tale, and it is filled with unpredictable and tense moments. The pacing, while it is slow, never felt dull. I will admit there was a moment in the film that felt like a final climax, but to my surprise a final, second climax was yet to come. Some edits also seemed questionable as scenes ended and suddenly cut to a shot of birds flying. Moments like this felt out of place and abrupt. While images of animals certainly look real for most of the film, there was one moment, including flying birds which did make me question if it was CGI and not real.
Overall, this is a gruesome and gritty revenge tale which is based on actual events. The film's plot is engaging and unpredictable. Performances are stable, and the film's visuals along with all the use of sound effects are equally impressive. As the credits rolled, I was generally left feeling rather impressed and touched by what I had witnessed in my cinema. I was also surrounded by the silence of other viewers. While it is filled with unsettling moments, it's certainly an Australian film worth supporting on the big screen.
7.1/10 - Walkden Entertainment
A gritty Australian thriller that doesn't fully hit the mark.
nicchang4 February 2021
High Ground is going to be inevitably compared to Jennifer Kent's The Nightingale, but both films are ultimately distinguishable. What's clear about High Ground is that it's no easy watch at all. It's a confronting look at post-colonial Australia, the inherent racism and corruption in the Australian law enforcement, and the atrocities committed against Aboriginal Australian tribes. It's important that we reflect on the horrors of our history to learn from our mistakes, so I'm glad that High Ground has a heightened focus on the Indigenous Australian perspective and received a wide release. It's a film that's certainly angry, but it also has important intentions and themes in mind, reminding us how violence begets violence and shows us the consequences of cultural division.
As such, High Ground strives with authenticity and grit. It has excellent acting from first-time performers Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Witiyana Marika and Esmerelda Marimowa, and it's great to see Indigenous Australian representation. There's also equally strong performances from Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey and Jack Thompson, and while Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr do their best, they are given little material to shine. Andrew Commis's cinematography is spectacular, which highlights the beauty and harsh nature of the Northern Territory, and the decision to include a fully Aboriginal soundtrack is smart. From graceful direction to handsome production values, everyone involved in High Ground worked hard to create a strong representation of Aboriginal culture and it's what shines most in this film.
High Ground's themes were working well for me and I was invested in the buildup... until the last 20 minutes. That's where the tension fizzled out, as the writing lost track of logic, failed to utilise the importance of its character roles and muddled the film's thematic depths to the point that it rubbed me off the wrong way. While I'm starting to see the intentions behind the ending, its sense of incompleteness and narrowness just doesn't sit right and undermines the strengths of High Ground. It was where I realised how much I didn't care about the shallow supporting character work, it messed up the slow burn and there was also questionable editing. It's an ending I found to be so disappointing that it almost ruined the film. Don't get me wrong, High Ground is one of the better Australian films out there that has good intentions in mind and its authenticity and representation are enough to warrant a watch. It has enough to fuel some much-needed conversations in our Australian society, but these could've been driven greatly by a stronger impact, which High Ground doesn't fully reach.
Plot and Characters (5/10) Presentation and Direction (7/10) Acting (9/10) Script (4/10) Setting/Locations (9/10) Tone (8/10) Cinematography/Visuals (8/10) Sound/Music (9/10) Editing (5/10) Pacing/Length (6/10)
Score: 70/100.
LIKES: +Authentic portrayal of Aboriginal culture +Overall powerful presentation +Brilliant performances +Beautiful, harsh locations +Stunning cinematography +Realistic sound design, great music choices +Gritty, bleak tone that provokes the film's themes
DISLIKES: -Disappointing conclusion almost undoes everything -Abrupt, distracting editing -Some shallow character work
As such, High Ground strives with authenticity and grit. It has excellent acting from first-time performers Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Witiyana Marika and Esmerelda Marimowa, and it's great to see Indigenous Australian representation. There's also equally strong performances from Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey and Jack Thompson, and while Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr do their best, they are given little material to shine. Andrew Commis's cinematography is spectacular, which highlights the beauty and harsh nature of the Northern Territory, and the decision to include a fully Aboriginal soundtrack is smart. From graceful direction to handsome production values, everyone involved in High Ground worked hard to create a strong representation of Aboriginal culture and it's what shines most in this film.
High Ground's themes were working well for me and I was invested in the buildup... until the last 20 minutes. That's where the tension fizzled out, as the writing lost track of logic, failed to utilise the importance of its character roles and muddled the film's thematic depths to the point that it rubbed me off the wrong way. While I'm starting to see the intentions behind the ending, its sense of incompleteness and narrowness just doesn't sit right and undermines the strengths of High Ground. It was where I realised how much I didn't care about the shallow supporting character work, it messed up the slow burn and there was also questionable editing. It's an ending I found to be so disappointing that it almost ruined the film. Don't get me wrong, High Ground is one of the better Australian films out there that has good intentions in mind and its authenticity and representation are enough to warrant a watch. It has enough to fuel some much-needed conversations in our Australian society, but these could've been driven greatly by a stronger impact, which High Ground doesn't fully reach.
Plot and Characters (5/10) Presentation and Direction (7/10) Acting (9/10) Script (4/10) Setting/Locations (9/10) Tone (8/10) Cinematography/Visuals (8/10) Sound/Music (9/10) Editing (5/10) Pacing/Length (6/10)
Score: 70/100.
LIKES: +Authentic portrayal of Aboriginal culture +Overall powerful presentation +Brilliant performances +Beautiful, harsh locations +Stunning cinematography +Realistic sound design, great music choices +Gritty, bleak tone that provokes the film's themes
DISLIKES: -Disappointing conclusion almost undoes everything -Abrupt, distracting editing -Some shallow character work
A visually captivating Australian drama
eddie_baggins4 February 2021
Following on in the footsteps of recent Australian success stories The Dry and Penguin Bloom, locally made feature High Ground continues on a strong showing of home grown offerings that finally seem to point to the Australian film industry once more getting back to a point where we are developing quality products that can compete with worldwide produce.
Directing his first film in 19 years following the release of the well-regarded Indigenous themed Yolngu Boy all the way back in 2001, filmmaker Stephen Johnson does a fantastic job of capturing the time and place of the early 1900's Northern Territory of Australia where a small group of soldiers loyal to crown and country find themselves embroiled in deadly game of cat and mouse between a tribe of Aboriginals that have a right to be seeking retribution following a callous attack on their communities years previously at the hands of white colonials.
Amongst this group of soldiers is Simon Baker's marksman Travis, a kind-hearted if forlorn soul whose rescuing of young indigenous boy Gutjuk comes full circle when the two are asked to join forces to help track down Gutjuk's uncle Baywara who has gathered together a mob that have been responsible for various attacks on white settlements across the land.
Pulling no punches in the way it deals with past horrors and the truth of early settlement in parts of Arnhem Land in this time period, particularly with a haunting and confronting opening act that will leave many viewers reeling from its frankness and rawness, High Ground is a visceral film and perhaps one of the best products yet when it comes to capturing the beautiful but dangerous landscape of the "real" Australia courtesy of Johnson, cinematographer Andrew Commis and an undoubtedly wearied drone operator.
Allowing the sounds and sights of the land to take hold of its story and its viewers, High Ground enraptures with its visual splendor and keen eye but its familiar story and uneasy narrative flow holds it back from becoming the Australian classic it may've been, even if its cast of industry veterans and newcomers all give it there all as we are taken on a story of revenge and soul searching that never surprises in regards too where it heads.
In what is arguably his best big screen role to date, Simon Baker is on fine form as the hard to read Travis, while supports from the likes of Jacob Junior Nayinggul as Gutjuk, Sean Mununggurr as the menacing but rightfully so Baywara and scene stealer Witiyana Marika as Grandfather Dharrpa ensure that this is a showcase for local Indigenous screen talent and recognizable faces such as Callan Mulvey, Jack Thompson and Caren Pistorius round out a top notch Australian based cast.
It's a shame High Ground's various elements never create that magic spark that can be found when the stars align but as an examination of our often unspoken about past and our harsh but spectacular lands, Johnson's film is still to be highly commended.
Final Say -
An at times haunting and captivating Australian film that has an overly familiar narrative and odd flow holding it back from being something truly grand, High Ground is another solid local production from the past few months that goes to show the Aussie film industry is alive and well with talent and stories worth telling.
3 bush plums out of 5
Directing his first film in 19 years following the release of the well-regarded Indigenous themed Yolngu Boy all the way back in 2001, filmmaker Stephen Johnson does a fantastic job of capturing the time and place of the early 1900's Northern Territory of Australia where a small group of soldiers loyal to crown and country find themselves embroiled in deadly game of cat and mouse between a tribe of Aboriginals that have a right to be seeking retribution following a callous attack on their communities years previously at the hands of white colonials.
Amongst this group of soldiers is Simon Baker's marksman Travis, a kind-hearted if forlorn soul whose rescuing of young indigenous boy Gutjuk comes full circle when the two are asked to join forces to help track down Gutjuk's uncle Baywara who has gathered together a mob that have been responsible for various attacks on white settlements across the land.
Pulling no punches in the way it deals with past horrors and the truth of early settlement in parts of Arnhem Land in this time period, particularly with a haunting and confronting opening act that will leave many viewers reeling from its frankness and rawness, High Ground is a visceral film and perhaps one of the best products yet when it comes to capturing the beautiful but dangerous landscape of the "real" Australia courtesy of Johnson, cinematographer Andrew Commis and an undoubtedly wearied drone operator.
Allowing the sounds and sights of the land to take hold of its story and its viewers, High Ground enraptures with its visual splendor and keen eye but its familiar story and uneasy narrative flow holds it back from becoming the Australian classic it may've been, even if its cast of industry veterans and newcomers all give it there all as we are taken on a story of revenge and soul searching that never surprises in regards too where it heads.
In what is arguably his best big screen role to date, Simon Baker is on fine form as the hard to read Travis, while supports from the likes of Jacob Junior Nayinggul as Gutjuk, Sean Mununggurr as the menacing but rightfully so Baywara and scene stealer Witiyana Marika as Grandfather Dharrpa ensure that this is a showcase for local Indigenous screen talent and recognizable faces such as Callan Mulvey, Jack Thompson and Caren Pistorius round out a top notch Australian based cast.
It's a shame High Ground's various elements never create that magic spark that can be found when the stars align but as an examination of our often unspoken about past and our harsh but spectacular lands, Johnson's film is still to be highly commended.
Final Say -
An at times haunting and captivating Australian film that has an overly familiar narrative and odd flow holding it back from being something truly grand, High Ground is another solid local production from the past few months that goes to show the Aussie film industry is alive and well with talent and stories worth telling.
3 bush plums out of 5
Brutal snapshot of history , but lovely scenery
nichola-178867 May 2021
An engaging movie which attempts to integrate indigenous Australian culture through POV, music and language. I particularly enjoyed the long shots of the beautiful scenery and the contrast of the two cultures and their interaction with each other and the landscape. I did not find it biased politically, as some other reviewers claim, as the movie simply lays out the events in an impartial way. Unfortunately, these things did actually happen and need to be acknowledged. I did think the characters were underdeveloped and many of the actors were given little to work with eg Aaron Peterson. The story is simplistic but I guess this is part of the limitation of trying to get a big message across in just one movie.
Not my idea of entertainment
verna-a3 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know whether to recommend this film or not. No doubt there is authenticity to this sort of story but it does leave you, the viewer at sea. I walked out not knowing how to process it, other than feeling the horror. What I do know is that the East Alligator River setting is impressive and the aboriginal actors are powerful. On the white side, apart from the obvious stars, the film suffers from a lack of real acting ability in the bit-part actors, something Australian films tend to suffer from. Even the big names can't do a lot with their parts in terms of convincing characterization. They tend to fall back on caricature. Simon Baker is intended to be enigmatic, I think, but it doesn't really come off (which is the fault of the screenplay). It does create a level of tension in terms of anticipating who is going to shoot whom (answer : everybody shoots everybody). At the end of the film you are left with a pretty empty stage, a bit like a Shakespeare tragedy. It leaves you with an empty heart too. Maybe the thing to consider if wondering whether to see the film is to decide if a) you want to support Australian films, or b) you want to be entertained. Thumbs down if the latter.
Great performances
valleyjohn23 July 2021
High Ground is one of those really good films that seemed to have got lost in the Covid Pandemic. Released last year to an open air audience in Perth Australia it's seems to have gone under the radar since . Which is a shame
In a bid to save the last of his family, Gutjuk, a young Aboriginal man, teams up with ex-soldier Travis to track down Baywara, the most dangerous warrior in the Territory, his uncle.
The first thing that hits you about the film is the setting and cinematography. Kadadu , Northern Territory looks absolutely stunning and a big credit must go to the Director Stephen Johnson and Cinematograper Andrew Commis.
The second is the acting . There are good performances all round but the stand outs are definitely Jacob Junior Nayinggul who plays Gutjuk and Simon Barker who plays Travis .
The story is about revenge but the problem is both sides want it .
You watch this and you release how the Australian police didn't care about aboriginal life at all and it's a real eye opener .
Recommended.
In a bid to save the last of his family, Gutjuk, a young Aboriginal man, teams up with ex-soldier Travis to track down Baywara, the most dangerous warrior in the Territory, his uncle.
The first thing that hits you about the film is the setting and cinematography. Kadadu , Northern Territory looks absolutely stunning and a big credit must go to the Director Stephen Johnson and Cinematograper Andrew Commis.
The second is the acting . There are good performances all round but the stand outs are definitely Jacob Junior Nayinggul who plays Gutjuk and Simon Barker who plays Travis .
The story is about revenge but the problem is both sides want it .
You watch this and you release how the Australian police didn't care about aboriginal life at all and it's a real eye opener .
Recommended.
Great acting
husseinnazzal19909 November 2020
Australian racial tension contrasted with natural beauty
gavinp97 February 2021
'High Ground' is a fictionalised glimpse into events that would have happened all the time in the 18th, 19th & even 20th century, as the British colonised Australia. This film is set in the 1930s, in Arnhem Land and Kakadu, and follows one Aboriginal tribe's fight for survival, particularly Gutjuk (Nayinggul), his uncle Baywara (Mununggurr) and grandfather Dharrpa (Marika), after the shocking intro scene we see in 1919.
Involved in the 1919 attack are Travis (Baker) and Eddy (Mulvey), both NT Police who report to Moran (Thompson). It's interesting to see their varying amounts of tolerance for the locals, including when Walter (Pedersen) comes in from Queensland to help. Thompson does a good job of pretensions Monarch-loving toff, while Baker is understated. The film starts to move when Travis and Gutjuk are sent to find and bring in Baywara, where allegiances are tested.
The film's rated MA for a reason and there are a few devastating scenes. But they're put there to make us confront and acknowledge what happened in Australia for 150 years after white settlement. The film does this well by letting us see through Gutjuk's eyes - Nayinggul does well as both a literal and metaphorical translator. Drones are used to great effect to capture the stunning scenery and the score and soundtrack are both good. Certainly not fun, but a well-made film and story.
Involved in the 1919 attack are Travis (Baker) and Eddy (Mulvey), both NT Police who report to Moran (Thompson). It's interesting to see their varying amounts of tolerance for the locals, including when Walter (Pedersen) comes in from Queensland to help. Thompson does a good job of pretensions Monarch-loving toff, while Baker is understated. The film starts to move when Travis and Gutjuk are sent to find and bring in Baywara, where allegiances are tested.
The film's rated MA for a reason and there are a few devastating scenes. But they're put there to make us confront and acknowledge what happened in Australia for 150 years after white settlement. The film does this well by letting us see through Gutjuk's eyes - Nayinggul does well as both a literal and metaphorical translator. Drones are used to great effect to capture the stunning scenery and the score and soundtrack are both good. Certainly not fun, but a well-made film and story.
Watch The Nightingale instead
Suave-48 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is a generic revenge killer plot and dropped it into a 1920's colonial outback Australia setting and slowed down to a snail's pace. The problems begin with the opening scene. A group of Aboriginals bathe in a picturesque stream. A bunch of soldiers show up and start shooting them. Without any lead up or backstory it just feels like comical violence for the sake of it. Wind forward 12 years and a couple of the survivors are out for revenge. Bang bang bang everyone shoots each other. The end. Seriously the cinematography is the only good thing about this movie. But while stunning scenery makes for a great documentary, it can't save a lackluster script filled with paper thin characters and no reason to care if they survive. 3/10.
Australian Epic
waltermwilliams1 February 2021
The thing I really love about Australian movies in 2020/21 is they are all brilliant.
Director Stephen Johnsons' "High Ground" is no exception.
It's the little things...always the little things like the sound effects of a bird eating its prey or a lizard scratching on the bark of a tree, and even green ants munching on flora that make this film so intimate and at times feels like I'm watching a Clint Eastwood cowboy flick.
The break out role for Indigenous actor Jacob Junior Nayin ggul as Gutjuk (which means Hawk) is outstanding and not to be overshadowed by legendary actors like Simon Baker, Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey or fellow Aboriginal actor Aaron Pederson.
"High Ground" is a brutal retelling of our First Nations Peoples horrific treatment at the hands of the British Colonists to their country...all in the name of the Crown.
Its Australia's answer to similar action in other countries like the British colonisation of the Americas and their treatment of the Natives.
It's a familiar story around the globe.
None of it is pretty, except the Country itself.
This is up close and personal from the perspective of both the Colonials and the local tribes and the disastrous results of these encounters.
"High Ground" is set against the stunning landscape of 1930's Arnhem Land.
Sacred land for Northern Territory tribes that live there to this day.
Bakers' Travis and Gutjuk are out to track down warring wild tribesman and Uncle, Baywarra, played by Sean Mununggurr.
Whilst his own Granfather Dharrpa (Witiyana Marika) is trying to make peace and seek justice for the deaths of his family by the Colonial Soldiers.
On this journey in the outback who can you really trust?
Simon Baker in his 50's is making superb movies including Breath (Netflix)
This movie was first screened in an open air theatre in Western Australia with a near full capacity crowd.
Made all the more remarkable because not many places in the world can host large crowds during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Cinemas around the world are in desperate need of content to fill their big screens right now and Australia is delivering the goods with first class films for the world to watch.
Movies like "High Ground" make you understand why some people are uncomfortable with Australia Day (the official national day of Australia) and protest its anniversary.
Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration in New South Wales by the First Fleet.
Another mode of Action-thriller.
sudhakaranakhilan14 February 2021
The genre put in here, Action, thriller loosely struck into my mind about the movie that I'm going to see reminds me of the previous on the same category taught about some crisping, seat edging moments in the sense of power-packed actions or some other kind of stuffs. But High Ground justifies the categorical points rather than my own assumptions. It was a action-thriller but not cooked in a way that I carried through my pre-conceptions. It is a nice one handles the historical background in a subtle, justifiable way. There is action, there is thrilling moment but the director uses new modus operandi to portray the situation. Wonderful scenic beauty , and setting that covered the inner soul of Australia.
Disturbing
Gordon-1117 July 2021
Australian history: Truth Be Told !
tm-sheehan8 February 2021
The story is set in Arnhem Land at the top end of Australia in the year 1919. The peaceful Dharrpa tribe is caught in the crossfires of a stand-off between police and two fugitives. What follows is a brutal and ruthless slaughter of the Dharrpa people where the only survivor is Gutjuk, a young boy rescued by Travis (Simon Baker) a WWI veteran turned policeman . Travis witnesses the cold blooded slaughter but reluctantly sanctions the atrocities by his regiment and eventually leaves the force racked by guilt . The start of this film is one of the cruelest and disturbing movie openings I've seen and its effective in telling just one story of the brutality of Australia's early settlement just over 100 years ago. More stories like this hopefully should help in mending the huge rift between indigenous and post 1788 cultures.
Why? because the film also shows that no one wins in a revenge war and violence begets violence. The story moves ahead 12 years in time when Gutjuk's uncle and mentor, Baywara (Sean Mununggurr) who survived the massacre that killed his family is still alive and leading a 'wild mob', attacking stations and killing livestock burning homes and killing settlers in the name of vengeance for his family?
Travis returns as his old police force accomplices need his help to track down Baywara the most dangerous warrior in the Territory and to erase the truth .
As Travis and Gutjuk journey through the outback they begin to earn each other's trust, but when the truths of Travis' past actions are suddenly revealed to Gutjuk it is he who becomes the hunted.
Sound a bit like a classic American shot gun Western? I'm sure that's not accidental and it works well except for a few exceptions that in my opinion spoiled the film.
Usually I mention all the things I really liked in a movie first then if there's any negative criticism I leave that last but I'll make an exception with High Ground.
My reason this time is that the first thing that bothered me was the small screen ratio . I can't think why they filmed High Ground is this Screen Ratio it probably wouldn't be as noticeable on television?
I read and agree with the view of Sean Coates from "The Babble Down Under " who writes -High Ground is a stunning looking film, but not in a way that you expect. The stark natural beauty of Arnhem Land and all its glorious vistas demand to be viewed on the biggest widescreen format available, but it's surprisingly presented in a tighter aspect ratio. The tight framing paired with visceral colors that leap off the screen and the intoxicating sound design envelops you into this beautiful yet unpredictable environment. Taking a leaf out of the Terrence Malick handbook, the film also utilizes a lot of wide angle, handheld close-ups that puts the onus on the performers, which should have struck the desired contemplative and wholly absorbing effect, but instead it feels incongruous with how the rest of the film is shot.
I've seen this Screen Aspect work well in the intense Gothic monochrome drama The Lighthouse (2019) because it added intensity and drama between the 2 characters but why it was used in High Ground is puzzling to me.
The other criticism I have is the lack of character development in the script between the two main characters Travis (Simon Baker) and Gutjuk (Jacob Junior Nayinggul both actors are superb in their portrayals but I would have liked more story and less shooting. The lingering conflict between the two characters should create an uneasy tension that could boil over at any moment once the truth is exposed, but it is never fully realized. Travis and Gutjuk's dynamic is very intriguing conceptually; Gutjuk with fire in his belly and his heart set on seeking justice for the death of his family and Travis' complicity and guilt driving him on a path to redemption, but in execution the script feels underdone. When we do get to the emotional payoffs between these characters, they are quite underwhelming and don't have the weight or the impact that they should.
The other small criticism is the lack of attempt to age two of the key characters in particular Ryan Corr as the Pastor Braddock ,who is traumatised by the cruelty of the massacre and his sister Claire (Carmen Pistorius ,who brings the young survivor Gutjuk up for 12 years both very effective in their roles . Twelve long years in Arnhem Land would have to have aged these fresh young faces or am I being too picky?
Now some well deserved praise "High Ground " looks and sounds beautiful I loved the effective use of bird shots and sounds like totems to the horrific events . The acting is superb from the all the main characters especially Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayingull and newcomer Esmeralda Marimowa as Gulwirri a young indigenous woman who has returned to Country after being brutalised by her white captors . Jack Thompson I recall on an Australian Story episode about the shooting of High Ground was very unwell and on dialysis in a special on set van . He gives a wonderful character performance as Moran a magistrate who attempts a reconciliation but only on the terms of King George V . High Ground is a very good film I recommend it ,it's described in Wikipedia as is a 2020 Australian drama/action thriller/meat-pie Western film directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson. I think it's more than that but could have been Better.
Now some well deserved praise "High Ground " looks and sounds beautiful I loved the effective use of bird shots and sounds like totems to the horrific events . The acting is superb from the all the main characters especially Simon Baker, Jacob Junior Nayingull and newcomer Esmeralda Marimowa as Gulwirri a young indigenous woman who has returned to Country after being brutalised by her white captors . Jack Thompson I recall on an Australian Story episode about the shooting of High Ground was very unwell and on dialysis in a special on set van . He gives a wonderful character performance as Moran a magistrate who attempts a reconciliation but only on the terms of King George V . High Ground is a very good film I recommend it ,it's described in Wikipedia as is a 2020 Australian drama/action thriller/meat-pie Western film directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson. I think it's more than that but could have been Better.
Gritty Australian cinema with spectacular cinematography
maccas-563671 September 2021
A tough film to rate, as this type of cinema is often hard to digest and put into words.
First of all, I loved the cinematography. It made me want to book a holiday to Australia's center. The scenery was gorgeous, the use of various camera angles powerful.
The film reminded me of The Nightingale and was difficult to watch in parts. Racism, violence and bigger messages are all at play. It's ultimately a revenge thriller with a western vibe.
Simon Baker and newcomer Sean Mununggurr delivered strong performances in particular.
Amidst its powerful lines and harsh realities, there is a lot to be unsatisfied by how it loses its way towards the end. It kept me engaged though and was one of the better films to come out of Australian cinema in the last year.
First of all, I loved the cinematography. It made me want to book a holiday to Australia's center. The scenery was gorgeous, the use of various camera angles powerful.
The film reminded me of The Nightingale and was difficult to watch in parts. Racism, violence and bigger messages are all at play. It's ultimately a revenge thriller with a western vibe.
Simon Baker and newcomer Sean Mununggurr delivered strong performances in particular.
Amidst its powerful lines and harsh realities, there is a lot to be unsatisfied by how it loses its way towards the end. It kept me engaged though and was one of the better films to come out of Australian cinema in the last year.
makings of a great western
SnoopyStyle2 June 2021
In 1919 Northern Australia, Eddy and Travis (Simon Baker) lead a peaceful expedition into the wilderness. Their encounter with a native family goes wrong. The soldiers start murdering the family and Travis is forced to kill two of the soldiers to stop the massacre. Gutjuk is a young survivor. He's taken to a mission to be raised by whites. 12 years later, Gutjuk's uncle Baywara is leading a local revolt. Eddy is tasked with ending the revolt. Travis is brought back to finish the job with Gutjuk's help to track his uncle for killing a white woman.
I like murky morality. I would like more of it. I like the different pulls on Gutjuk's loyality. I would like more of that, too. The way to do it may be to limit the number of characters. This has the makings of a great western. This should be a battle for Gutjuk's soul between Travis and Baywara. He should discover that neither and both are his spiritual fathers. I really do like these characters. As for Claire, she confused me a little initially as I assumed that she was Eddy's sister. A little more clarity would be helpful. She blames Travis before she knows the whole story. This movie is always a half step away from greatness. That makes it good but it could have been great.
I like murky morality. I would like more of it. I like the different pulls on Gutjuk's loyality. I would like more of that, too. The way to do it may be to limit the number of characters. This has the makings of a great western. This should be a battle for Gutjuk's soul between Travis and Baywara. He should discover that neither and both are his spiritual fathers. I really do like these characters. As for Claire, she confused me a little initially as I assumed that she was Eddy's sister. A little more clarity would be helpful. She blames Travis before she knows the whole story. This movie is always a half step away from greatness. That makes it good but it could have been great.
6.5 is about right
gilesadhamilton24 September 2021
Has the makings of a great western ( like Hostiles) transported to the outback. Excellent performances and some gorgeous camera work are let down by a haphazard unfolding of the story as if edited from a much longer movie.
A Guide to viewing High Ground.
pmathias-5625527 February 2020
The timing of this movie's release is of no coincidence, and the story conveyed within it is far from simple. Seen by itself it could be easy to view it as a simple story. But seen in a wider context it has the potential to bridge great divides that stand between us. With so much division and conflict in the world, it is time to forgive and heal "High ground" presents an opportunity to serve this process when seen it the proper context.
During my conversations with senior elders from the central desert, I was shown what is required for true healing to occur in Australia between its many peoples and the first tribes. The famous apology by Kevin Rudd in parliament in 2008 did not heal the wound. What is required is more personal, like an exercise you might do at school.
Imagine that you are the sole survivor of the massacre, that you are the last of your tribe, your family. Those who you have seen cut down in front of you are your uncles and aunties, your brothers and sisters, your nephews and nieces, your mother and your father. Allow yourself to feel this fully, do not hold back. Put yourself right into the depth of it. Suffer it, conduct this pain in silence, because no one is going to listen to you, no one is going to come and save you, and no justice is going to be served on your behalf.
If you do this exercise fully, it will break you and wound you. You will act differently and behave differently. And when you stand in front of the real elders, they will see it in your eyes, see it in your body. Words will not be required, handouts will not be necessary. Understanding and compassion will be the case. Forgiveness will be its sign. This is how we heal, this is the way of the heart.
The 1992 movie "Thunder Heart" staring Val Kilmer, documents the massacre of Sioux Indians at Wounded knee in south Dakota. This movie should be seen before you see High Ground. This pattern that has played out through history, is as old as the story of Cane and Abel, whereby we would kill our brother to possess his land. Yet even after all this blood shed, the death of so many innocent, the true spirit of a living man and living woman, still shines forth. Unblemished by the suffering of this world, we call out to our brothers and sisters. "we are one family, time to stop behaving as if we were not!"
This is the unspoken message of "High Ground" and the many movies that have portrayed similar stories. Australia is entering a time of prophecy and many great events will soon transpire that will restore hope and joy into the hearts of all Australians. This movie can be the catalyst to great change, we are waiting for your response and we will see the answer in your eyes and hearts.
Frigging bird shots
robkennedy-6091531 January 2021
A very disjointed display of crap,
This could of been a multi award winning movie if done much better, very little character development with a cast limping along with downright stupid melodrama.
Lost count of how many times I nearly walked out 👎🏻
True history in the real Australia
davidmcmahon-742494 January 2021
An aimless waste of a good cast.
cthulufunk9 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
TLDR Version: I can't fathom all these 10 star reviews, this movie is a mess. High Ground is beautifully filmed with a cast of solid actors like Simon Baker, Aaron Pedersen & the gorgeous Caren Pistorius, and good performances from the less experienced actors, but the script & screenplay utterly fail them. They & the subject matter deserved better. This is not Sweet Country, which is an infinitely better movie set in the same time & place that also deals with colonial injustices toward Aborigines. There is really only ONE good scene in High Ground, where Gutjuk's grandfather parlays with the police commander and tells him they should be following the natives' laws since he & his Queen's laws came from across the ocean. That's it. Everything else is forgettable, cliched & often stupid.
The Long Spoiler-Heavy Version: A good Director would have completely overhauled this screenplay to be less nonsensical with more character development, especially Simon Baker's character Travis, who shoots other whitefellas with no hesitation and somehow gets away with it in the first act. Seriously, there's a bit of dialogue that amounts to "we found your rifle rounds in our guys but not in any of the abo's, heh heh, but we'll send you to apprehend this Baywara that's terrorizing settlers, prove yourself ;)". Imagine a US cavalryman at Wounded Knee getting away with shooting two of his fellow soldiers and no Lakota. He'd be dancing at the gallows, but here's Travis The Sniper walking free for 12 years. Anyway, in Act 1, WW1 veteran Travis is a sniper in a police squad that's bringing a missionary or something to convert a tribe of aborigines. I think. It's wasn't clear to me WTH they're doing & why they need a sniper for it. Travis's war buddy "spotter" Eddy walks up to a boy named Gutjuk. Gutjuk starts screaming & screaming hysterically and Eddy tries to calm him down to no avail, then Gutjuk's idiot uncle Baywara runs towards them with his spear arm cocked at Eddy (who could've killed Gutjuk ages ago if that was his goal). Eddy naturally defends himself & shoots Baywara in the face, and in the confusion a massacre begins. Gutjuk's mom takes him down into a nearby pond, shows him the old reed-snorkel trick and pushes him under some lilypads. Instead of doing the same though, she decides to run back into the fray for some reason, flails her arms wildly with no attempt to be stealthy at all & gets shot. Travis teamkills two of his own guys to stop the massacre, then walks down and pulls Gutjuk out of his underwater hiding place after his comrades have seemingly killed the whole tribe. Travis & the preacher for this outreach of christian brotherly-love take the newly orphaned boy back to the mission where Claire (Caren Pistorious) greets them. Later, Gutjuk's grandfather Dharpa comes back from walkabout & finds his whole tribe dead except for his unconscious son Baywara whose stupidity got everyone killed. Go figure.
Act 2. It's 12 years later. Baywara has a badass facial scar & is raising hell against whitey, so the provincial police chief Moran (Jack Thompson) calls Travis out of retirement & sends him and a now adult Gutjuk (who the Aborigine-sympathizing missionaries renamed Tommy for some reason) to locate Baywara and his merry band. Why, I don't know...the motivation for sending Travis & Baywara's nephew out to find them made no sense. Any tracker could've done that. Travis's war buddy Eddy is also there but he doesn't go with them for some reason, he stays behind to wait for a "half-caste" Aborigine named Walter (played by Aaron Pedersen). The shady Walter could have been an interesting lynchpin character but of course this film did nothing with him. Then for some reason Eddy & Walter go after Travis & Gutjuk, but get disarmed by them and sent back. I swear, I paid total attention to this movie but it's such an eye-glazing slog, expect me to say "for some reason" a lot. After Eddy & Walter leave, the renegade aborigines pop up & take Travis prisoner. Then Gutjuk's grandfather Dharpa takes them all back (minus Baywara) to negotiate with police chief Moran about Baywara, with Gutjuk translating. Gutjuk, who's been learning english for 12 FREAKING YEARS, translates all this very badly. The kind of bad translating that causes international incidents. Nothing is resolved, and Moran and the others just let them leave. Now, a truly shrewd colonizer with 20th century weaponry would've just taken these primitives hostage until Baywara turned himself in. But...again *for some reason* they're allowed to just leave.
Act 3. Gudjuk listens to some metaphysical mumbojumbo from his Grandfather while making spearheads (the subtitles for the aborigine scenes in this movie are badly done). The next day the provincial police raid their camp, and Baywara flies into a rage at Gutjuk for being in league with the soldiers who killed their homies. Baywara then acts like he's going to stab Gutjuk, and is shot dead by triggerhappy Travis who's watching from far away through his rifle scope. Then Travis starts teamkilling again, shooting some raiding police & shooting Walter in the head. Travis then comes down to help Gutjuk escape, but for some reason Gutjuk not only knows he's who shot Baywara but that he was involved in the massacre (though from what I recall Travis killed no one but his coworkers). Gutjuk then shoots Travis in the abdomen & runs away. Travis is taken back to the mission, bandaged up & told that he's going to hang this time for his teamkilling. Gutjuk and the surviving renegades go on the offensive & attack the police camp at the mission. Thus begins a reenactment of The OC series finale. You know, the much parodied Imogen Heap song "Hide&Seek" playing while everyone shoots everyone? Police chief Moran is about to kill Gutjuk, Travis shoots him in the head (MMMM WHATCHA SAYYY) then Eddy appears and is about to kill Travis but Claire shoots him in the back (MMM THAT YOU ONLY MEANT WELL), then Moran's nephew tries to shoot Gutjuk but Travis jumps in front of it (MMMM WHAT'D YA SAYYY) Travis dies as he says "Gutjuk" over and over (MMM THATS IT ALL FOR THE BEST OF COURSE IT IS).
Longest review I've ever done, because I'm flabbergasted at the virtue signalling 10/10's this film is getting on IMDB. I can think of several better movies that tell you how bad aborigines have had it...Sweet Country, Rabbit Proof Fence, Tracker, The Nightingale, etc.
The Long Spoiler-Heavy Version: A good Director would have completely overhauled this screenplay to be less nonsensical with more character development, especially Simon Baker's character Travis, who shoots other whitefellas with no hesitation and somehow gets away with it in the first act. Seriously, there's a bit of dialogue that amounts to "we found your rifle rounds in our guys but not in any of the abo's, heh heh, but we'll send you to apprehend this Baywara that's terrorizing settlers, prove yourself ;)". Imagine a US cavalryman at Wounded Knee getting away with shooting two of his fellow soldiers and no Lakota. He'd be dancing at the gallows, but here's Travis The Sniper walking free for 12 years. Anyway, in Act 1, WW1 veteran Travis is a sniper in a police squad that's bringing a missionary or something to convert a tribe of aborigines. I think. It's wasn't clear to me WTH they're doing & why they need a sniper for it. Travis's war buddy "spotter" Eddy walks up to a boy named Gutjuk. Gutjuk starts screaming & screaming hysterically and Eddy tries to calm him down to no avail, then Gutjuk's idiot uncle Baywara runs towards them with his spear arm cocked at Eddy (who could've killed Gutjuk ages ago if that was his goal). Eddy naturally defends himself & shoots Baywara in the face, and in the confusion a massacre begins. Gutjuk's mom takes him down into a nearby pond, shows him the old reed-snorkel trick and pushes him under some lilypads. Instead of doing the same though, she decides to run back into the fray for some reason, flails her arms wildly with no attempt to be stealthy at all & gets shot. Travis teamkills two of his own guys to stop the massacre, then walks down and pulls Gutjuk out of his underwater hiding place after his comrades have seemingly killed the whole tribe. Travis & the preacher for this outreach of christian brotherly-love take the newly orphaned boy back to the mission where Claire (Caren Pistorious) greets them. Later, Gutjuk's grandfather Dharpa comes back from walkabout & finds his whole tribe dead except for his unconscious son Baywara whose stupidity got everyone killed. Go figure.
Act 2. It's 12 years later. Baywara has a badass facial scar & is raising hell against whitey, so the provincial police chief Moran (Jack Thompson) calls Travis out of retirement & sends him and a now adult Gutjuk (who the Aborigine-sympathizing missionaries renamed Tommy for some reason) to locate Baywara and his merry band. Why, I don't know...the motivation for sending Travis & Baywara's nephew out to find them made no sense. Any tracker could've done that. Travis's war buddy Eddy is also there but he doesn't go with them for some reason, he stays behind to wait for a "half-caste" Aborigine named Walter (played by Aaron Pedersen). The shady Walter could have been an interesting lynchpin character but of course this film did nothing with him. Then for some reason Eddy & Walter go after Travis & Gutjuk, but get disarmed by them and sent back. I swear, I paid total attention to this movie but it's such an eye-glazing slog, expect me to say "for some reason" a lot. After Eddy & Walter leave, the renegade aborigines pop up & take Travis prisoner. Then Gutjuk's grandfather Dharpa takes them all back (minus Baywara) to negotiate with police chief Moran about Baywara, with Gutjuk translating. Gutjuk, who's been learning english for 12 FREAKING YEARS, translates all this very badly. The kind of bad translating that causes international incidents. Nothing is resolved, and Moran and the others just let them leave. Now, a truly shrewd colonizer with 20th century weaponry would've just taken these primitives hostage until Baywara turned himself in. But...again *for some reason* they're allowed to just leave.
Act 3. Gudjuk listens to some metaphysical mumbojumbo from his Grandfather while making spearheads (the subtitles for the aborigine scenes in this movie are badly done). The next day the provincial police raid their camp, and Baywara flies into a rage at Gutjuk for being in league with the soldiers who killed their homies. Baywara then acts like he's going to stab Gutjuk, and is shot dead by triggerhappy Travis who's watching from far away through his rifle scope. Then Travis starts teamkilling again, shooting some raiding police & shooting Walter in the head. Travis then comes down to help Gutjuk escape, but for some reason Gutjuk not only knows he's who shot Baywara but that he was involved in the massacre (though from what I recall Travis killed no one but his coworkers). Gutjuk then shoots Travis in the abdomen & runs away. Travis is taken back to the mission, bandaged up & told that he's going to hang this time for his teamkilling. Gutjuk and the surviving renegades go on the offensive & attack the police camp at the mission. Thus begins a reenactment of The OC series finale. You know, the much parodied Imogen Heap song "Hide&Seek" playing while everyone shoots everyone? Police chief Moran is about to kill Gutjuk, Travis shoots him in the head (MMMM WHATCHA SAYYY) then Eddy appears and is about to kill Travis but Claire shoots him in the back (MMM THAT YOU ONLY MEANT WELL), then Moran's nephew tries to shoot Gutjuk but Travis jumps in front of it (MMMM WHAT'D YA SAYYY) Travis dies as he says "Gutjuk" over and over (MMM THATS IT ALL FOR THE BEST OF COURSE IT IS).
Longest review I've ever done, because I'm flabbergasted at the virtue signalling 10/10's this film is getting on IMDB. I can think of several better movies that tell you how bad aborigines have had it...Sweet Country, Rabbit Proof Fence, Tracker, The Nightingale, etc.
Gorgeous looking tragic drama
andrewbunney11 January 2021
This is a hard-hitting drama in the cowboy Western style, set in outback Australia with British frontier characters including ranchers, police, military versus the overwhelmed indigenous Australians. When a traditional owner kills a settler's cow, all hell breaks loose with the colonial firepower turned loose on warriors with spears, women and children. In the mayhem, an over-zealous coloniser dies from friendly fire and a tricky situation persists.
When Tommy, a surviving child who has been brought up by white missionaries chances upon his blood relatives, the only resolution the British can contemplate is bloody erasure.
This is a completely gorgeous film to look at; the tones of the country, the eucalypts, the skies, the earth and ancient rocks. There is a soaring presence of birds in the skies over this tragic story, with reptiles slithering at ground level. Then there are the diverse, Aboriginal characters and the high drama of their naked or painted black skin. Jacob Junior Nayinggul, elder- Witiyana Marika (Yothu Yindi).
What wonderful acting we see from both them and the whities played magnificently by Jack Thompson, Simon Baker, Caren Pistorius & Callum Mulvay.
The film is the result of a 35-year collaboration between Director/ Producer Stephen Maxwell Johnson (Yolngu Boy) and Witiyana Marika (Yothu Yindi).
As specific in its tangled detail as a police report to a Protector of Aborigines, it also a story that echoes around this country and around the world. The film is much more exploratory than preachy. All facets of the human interactions are played out for us to grasp. 5 stars
When Tommy, a surviving child who has been brought up by white missionaries chances upon his blood relatives, the only resolution the British can contemplate is bloody erasure.
This is a completely gorgeous film to look at; the tones of the country, the eucalypts, the skies, the earth and ancient rocks. There is a soaring presence of birds in the skies over this tragic story, with reptiles slithering at ground level. Then there are the diverse, Aboriginal characters and the high drama of their naked or painted black skin. Jacob Junior Nayinggul, elder- Witiyana Marika (Yothu Yindi).
What wonderful acting we see from both them and the whities played magnificently by Jack Thompson, Simon Baker, Caren Pistorius & Callum Mulvay.
The film is the result of a 35-year collaboration between Director/ Producer Stephen Maxwell Johnson (Yolngu Boy) and Witiyana Marika (Yothu Yindi).
As specific in its tangled detail as a police report to a Protector of Aborigines, it also a story that echoes around this country and around the world. The film is much more exploratory than preachy. All facets of the human interactions are played out for us to grasp. 5 stars
I needed subtitles
danceman-417766 December 2020
Not engaging
MrDeWinter7 October 2021
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