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Clip description
This clip introduces Samson (Rowan McNamara) and the community where he lives. It shows him waking up in a destitute house and petrol sniffing for breakfast, as well as having a brief confrontation with his brother (Matthew Gibson). Delilah (Marissa Gibson) is also introduced, establishing the fact that she sleeps on the porch instead of inside the house.
Curator’s notes
In the opening of the film Thornton uses Charlie Pride’s song 'Sunshiny Day’ ironically, contrasting the cheerfulness of its lyrics with the images depicting Samson’s daily routine of substance abuse and boredom. The shock of seeing Samson sniffing from the tin as part of his wake-up routine makes for an arresting start to the movie.
The laidback country song on the soundtrack, Rowan McNamara’s unhurried movements and the camera holding on Samson for the first two minutes of the clip all clue the audience in to the slower pace of life in the community. As the film progresses, Thornton includes other morning scenes to make it clear that Samson’s life tends to be a simple repetition of the previous day, suggesting the difficulty of breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
This clip is striking for its lack of dialogue but Thornton makes up for it with his clever use of music throughout the clip. Charlie Pride sets the scene before his song is drowned out by Samson’s electric guitar. His refusal to play along with the band, and jarring contrast with the more relaxed country music, hints at Samson’s sense of social alienation, which escalates throughout the film. A wordless confrontation effortlessly conveys the tension between Samson and his brother, when the latter pulls the guitar off Samson.
The last part of the clip presents yet another contrast. The band’s music can be heard in the distance, to let us know we are not far away, but Delilah awakes to bird song. Despite their proximity, she seems to live in a more peaceful world than Samson. It leaves us wondering how these two different characters will interact with each other.
