If there is a choice, I will select neither a war theme movie nor a horror movie. But I watched “Australia” with my friend on last Sunday on 28 December 2008. This is a 3 hours long movie with setting in the far outback of Australia, Northern Territory, during World War II in year 1939. Certainly there are footages of Japanese air raid in Darwin but this does not stop me from watching this movie. I watched the film because of my affection for Australia, a feeling of liking that I have during my 2 years stay in Melbourne.
The movie is impressive with scenes of breathtaking beauty especially the adventurous scene which Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman driving 1500 head of cattle across the outback in Northern Territory. I always wonder what it is like to be there, the scotching sun, the mountains aflame in red, starry night, barren landscape with cracks, kangaroos, the sound of wind swirling in the great valley, the kisses of rain, etc. The movie is real, beautiful, romantic and a truly magnificent epic to Australia. The music is exhilarating and touching.
Certainly, Nicole is gorgeous and elegant while Hugh is sexy and butch. But what attracts me more is this little aboriginal child called “Nullah”, who learns the native magic songs from his grand farther King George, which can make him “invinsible”. It is inspiring while he sings to fish, to people, to rocks, to animals. In the movie, Hugh mentioned that the ancestors of aborigine had created different songs for different elements in the great nature. It is simply amazing to see Nullah single-handedly stopping a huge herd of running amok cattle by this spiritual hymn. As the song goes, we are led into the wondrous world of wonder. It is revealing for me because many of us has been blinded by the materialistic and sensual pleasure that we have forgotten the simplest bliss from the great nature.
“… … … to return to where you come from… … …” I was stunned when King George said this line in the movie when he came to fetch Nullah for his walkabout. For me, it sounds like a warm reminder to me to remember the feeling before I was born. We are fully embraced by peace and serenity while we were being carried by our mother. But our mind is corrupted by myriad of things while we are growing up and lead us into various up and down in life.
One great thing of this movie is the portrayal of the profound beauty of Australian aboriginal art and cultures. It is beautiful and hence it taught us the importance to respect others’ cultures and civilizations but not suppression or assimilation to exterminate them. It is very important to retain every culture and it is awesome to see thousand different flower blossoms in the garden rather than just one type of flower.
