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Australia (2008)

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clip Cattle drive

Original classification rating: M. This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

The Drover (Hugh Jackman) prepares to lead the Faraway Downs cattle to Darwin. He explains the rules to Lady Ashley (Nicole Kidman), Nullah (Brandon Walters), Bandy Legs (Lillian Crombie), Kipling Flynn (Jack Thompson) and the rest of the team.

Curator’s notes

by Richard Kuipers

This is a motley crew compared to the experienced stockmen the Drover is used to working with. As he lays down the law he is like a team coach who’s lost his star players and has to make do with who’s left in the squad.

Hugh Jackman, best known internationally as the muscle-bound Wolverine in the X-Men movies, brings an imposing physical presence to the part of the Drover. He uses his prowess with horses and a gruff tone to establish his credentials as the boss. His eye rolling and muttered asides in this clip offer a welcome touch of humour that livens his performance.

The journey of this underdog multicultural crew to Darwin is similar to that of Dorothy and her companions in The Wizard of Oz (1939) – a film frequently referenced in Australia. Like Oz, Darwin is the place where dreams can be fulfilled. In the case of Lady Ashley, getting her cattle to Darwin is the only hope she has of saving her land and livelihood.

Not since The Overlanders (1946) has an Australian cattle drive been presented so spectacularly. Mandy Walker’s glorious widescreen cinematography in this sequence also indicates the enormity of the task ahead of the Drover and his crew. In the final shot, the cattle are dwarfed by the vast and dusty landscape they are heading into.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
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