''Australian Rules'', is a 2002 Australian
sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, th ...
drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
film directed by
Paul Goldman and starring
Nathan Phillips,
Luke Carroll
Luke Carroll is an Australian stage, television and film actor.
Education
Carroll attended Marcellin College Randwick and graduated in 1996.
Television and film
Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including ''The Flyin ...
,
Tom Budge
Thomas Budge (born 15 March 1982) is an Australian actor. Budge was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Early in his acting career, Budge appeared in a number of Australian television shows, including ''Neighbours'', ''Round the Twist'', and ''Shock Jo ...
,
Brian Torry
Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish and Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world.
It is possible that the name is derived from an Old Celtic word me ...
and
Lisa Flanagan
Lisa Flanagan is an Aboriginal Australian actress, known for her roles on stage and in television and film. Film roles include her debut movie '' Australian Rules'' and '' Look Both Ways'', while on stage she performed in Wesley Enoch's ''The Sa ...
. The film was adapted from the novels ''
Deadly, Unna?
''Deadly, Unna?'' is a 1998 work of teenage fiction and is Phillip Gwynne's debut novel. Set in a small coastal town in South Australia, it is a rites-of-passage story about the interracial friendship between Australian rules football teammate ...
'' (1998) and ''Nukkin Ya''
by
Phillip Gwynne. The film is about a young man experiencing the hardships of growing up in rural
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
. In particular, it deals with the issue of racial relationships through the central characters, their involvement in local
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
, and
Aboriginal players. The film was launched at the
Adelaide Festival of Arts
The Adelaide Festival of Arts, also known as the Adelaide Festival, an arts festival, takes place in the South Australian capital of Adelaide in March each year. Started in 1960, it is a major celebration of the arts and a significant cultural ...
on 5 March 2002, and nationwide on 29 August 2002.
Plot
In the isolated and fictional South Australian fishing town of Prospect Bay, the only thing that connects the black and white communities is football. Gary "Blacky" Black (
Nathan Phillips) and Dumby Red (
Luke Carroll
Luke Carroll is an Australian stage, television and film actor.
Education
Carroll attended Marcellin College Randwick and graduated in 1996.
Television and film
Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including ''The Flyin ...
) are an exception; teenage best friends from different sides of the tracks. Dumby is the star of the football team and likely to become the next big Aboriginal star in the big leagues. Gary is the bookish son of hard-drinking and brutal fisherman Bob Black (
Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway (born 22 December 1958) is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Sergeant Peter "Noddy" Faithful in the crime drama series ''Phoenix'', ...
). He is attracted to Dumby's sister, Clarence (
Lisa Flanagan
Lisa Flanagan is an Aboriginal Australian actress, known for her roles on stage and in television and film. Film roles include her debut movie '' Australian Rules'' and '' Look Both Ways'', while on stage she performed in Wesley Enoch's ''The Sa ...
). Blacky's supportive mother helps him become a better player as he is chosen to be the ruckman in the team's upcoming grand final. Blacky has to overcome Thumper, the star player for the opposition. When gameday arrives Blacky at first struggles to make an impact on the game but Dumby inspires the team kicking several goals. When Dumby gets a mark near goals with the scores tied he hands it off to a teammate instead of taking the shot. The player kicks a point and Blacky has to run into Thumper to stop him from kicking the winning goal. Their team wins the premiership, but Dumby and Blacky's elation is short-lived. Dumby is passed over for the best-on-ground medal for the coach's son Simon Robertson. Dumby is disgusted and angered by the obvious racially motivated decision.
Disgruntled, Dumby and his cousin Pretty (
Tony Briggs
Tony Briggs (born 3 July 1967) is an Australian actor, writer and producer. He is a former track and field athlete. He is best known for creating the stage play '' The Sapphires'' (later a 2012 film) telling the true story of an Aboriginal s ...
) attempt to rob the bar where the celebrations were held, hoping to find the best-on-ground medal. After breaking into the bar, they meet the drunk owner, beat him into unconsciousness and proceed to the safe with the key found in his pocket. Bob, waking to find the owner unconscious with a head wound, heads to the office and loads a double-barrelled shotgun. Bob sneaks up behind Dumby and fires a shot into the figure in the darkness. Bob discovers he has killed Dumby. Pretty, who has been hiding behind the door, jumps him and points the gun at his neck. Pretty reveals himself by removing his makeshift balaclava. He does not shoot Bob but fires the remaining round into the ceiling and runs away into the darkness. Bob is questioned by police over the shooting but is let off on the grounds of self-defense. Blacky is devastated over Dumby's death and angrily tosses his premiership trophy into the ocean. Clarence and Blacky console each other and fall in love. Bob and the family are greeted with hostility and harassed by some local Aboriginal people which only further fuels Bob's violent temper and bigotry.
Clarence sneaks into Blacky's room one night and they make love. The next morning Bob discovers them in bed and beats Blacky. He racially insults Clarence and throws her out. Fed up with his father, Blacky leaves. Blacky meets with Dumby's family and attends his funeral. He acquires the best on ground medal and places it in Dumby's casket. After returning home he is confronted by Bob and is told he is no longer welcome in his house due to his relationship with Clarence. Blacky defiantly stands still even after Bob punches him repeatedly. Defeated and exhausted, Bob leaves the family never to come back. The football team is disbanded as no Aboriginal players show up to training or games. The film ends with Blacky and Clarence jumping into the ocean and swimming in the water. Blacky narrates that they will both be leaving soon, as there is nothing left for them in this town.
Cast
*
Nathan Phillips as Gary "Blacky" Black
*
Simon Westaway
Simon Westaway (born 22 December 1958) is an Australian actor who has appeared in many television series, films and theatre productions. He is most remembered as portraying Sergeant Peter "Noddy" Faithful in the crime drama series ''Phoenix'', ...
as Bob Black
*
Celia Ireland as Liz Black
*
Harrison Gilbertson
Harrison Gilbertson (born 29 June 1993) is an Australian actor.
Early life
Gilbertson was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the son of Julie Sloan and Brian Gilbertson.
Career
Gilbertson began acting at the age of six when he played the chara ...
as Greggy
*
Kelton Pell
Kelton Pell is an Aboriginal Australian (Noongar) stage, TV and film actor, best known for his role as the court liaison officer, Sam Wallan, in the SBS legal drama '' The Circuit'' set in north-western Australia. Pell is from Western Australia. ...
as Tommy Red
*
Luke Carroll
Luke Carroll is an Australian stage, television and film actor.
Education
Carroll attended Marcellin College Randwick and graduated in 1996.
Television and film
Carroll started out in guest roles in some Australian shows, including ''The Flyin ...
as Dumby Red
*
Tony Briggs
Tony Briggs (born 3 July 1967) is an Australian actor, writer and producer. He is a former track and field athlete. He is best known for creating the stage play '' The Sapphires'' (later a 2012 film) telling the true story of an Aboriginal s ...
as Pretty Red
*
Lisa Flanagan
Lisa Flanagan is an Aboriginal Australian actress, known for her roles on stage and in television and film. Film roles include her debut movie '' Australian Rules'' and '' Look Both Ways'', while on stage she performed in Wesley Enoch's ''The Sa ...
as Clarence Red
*
Tom Budge
Thomas Budge (born 15 March 1982) is an Australian actor. Budge was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Early in his acting career, Budge appeared in a number of Australian television shows, including ''Neighbours'', ''Round the Twist'', and ''Shock Jo ...
as Pickles
*
Kevin Harrington as Mr. Robertson "Arks"
*
Martin Vaughan
Martin Kevin Vaughan (5 June 1931 – October 2022) was an Australian stage, television and film actor and musician. He is best known for appearing in the film Phar Lap as trainer Harry Telford and the lead role in the award-winning 26-part 1976 ...
as Darcy
Accolades
References
External links
*
Australian Rulesat Oz Movies
*
*
Australian Rules at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Rules (Film)
2002 films
ARIA Award-winning albums
2002 directorial debut films
2000s sports drama films
Australian sports drama films
Films shot in Adelaide
Films shot in South Australia
Australian rules football films
Films based on Australian novels
Films about race and ethnicity
Films about interracial romance
Films set in South Australia
2002 drama films
2000s English-language films
Films about Aboriginal Australians