I enjoyed this film but it's not perfect. I do think it's longer than it needs to be There is some serious violence although none of it is really extreme and, as my stranger/neighbor seated near me at the theatre said at the end, "not like it's out of place."
There are some implausibilities. Like the heroine's horse. It's explained early on that even though she's still technically indentured her husband has completed his sentence and is working for himself and was able to buy her a horse, complete with saddle, saddlebags, holster for the rifle, etc. They make clear at one point that this is a very valuable asset since she offers to sell it for "ten pounds" and give the proceeds to the aboriginal if he helps her, emphasizing that with that much money, he wouldn't have to work again (I do believe she makes that statement.)
(Also in the course of several days journeying we never see them feeding or watering said mount. Maybe all this occurred off-screen but since our heroes regularly discuss the need to find food for themselves, I'm not sure they had any for the horse, especially when at one point she loses the small bag that evidently did have some supplies.)
In any case, it's clear that a personal mount is very valuable SINCE NOBODY ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE, not even the lieutenant and his underlings when they undertake a hazardous journey in pursuit of his promotion. Not even the other "chain gangs" she runs into en route when she pursues them. It seems like the horse is a plot necessity so she can escape from the dangers she encounters en route, which she does more than once. This seems contrived to me. It's beyond me why British officers serving in the Tasmanian outback would not have access to horses. Other than that this would have undermined the story.
I also don't understand why she is left alive after the soldiers kill her husband and baby. In fact, the ensign is ordered by the lieutenant to kill her yet he only hits her with the butt of his rifle, and she wakes up a day later to the nightmare her life has become. If these soldiers are ready to rape her in front of her husband, kill him and then kill her baby to stop it crying, it's clear they wouldn't have hesitated to kill her as well. In fact, that was the lieutenant's stated intention. Well, I do understand why she is left alive... the writer would not have had a story to tell, but it does seem improbable. And that troubles this viewer.
The ending is enigmatic, and there's no way to avoid that since this wasn't going to end well for her, after being involved in the murders of two soldiers in their rooms and really having no way to escape justice. If the film ran a few more minutes, it would have to depict her being hanged.
The only character who maybe survives to enjoy the remains of a happy life is maybe... her horse?
The cinematography is excellent, the scenery beautiful and haunting in spots and the music and singing do contribute greatly to the story . A film well worth viewing, IF you can tolerate some rough rape scenes and some bloody shooting and stabbing. Watch the credits since they explain that apparently a Tasmanian language was created for the movie, based on a "real" language. Interesting..
There are some implausibilities. Like the heroine's horse. It's explained early on that even though she's still technically indentured her husband has completed his sentence and is working for himself and was able to buy her a horse, complete with saddle, saddlebags, holster for the rifle, etc. They make clear at one point that this is a very valuable asset since she offers to sell it for "ten pounds" and give the proceeds to the aboriginal if he helps her, emphasizing that with that much money, he wouldn't have to work again (I do believe she makes that statement.)
(Also in the course of several days journeying we never see them feeding or watering said mount. Maybe all this occurred off-screen but since our heroes regularly discuss the need to find food for themselves, I'm not sure they had any for the horse, especially when at one point she loses the small bag that evidently did have some supplies.)
In any case, it's clear that a personal mount is very valuable SINCE NOBODY ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE, not even the lieutenant and his underlings when they undertake a hazardous journey in pursuit of his promotion. Not even the other "chain gangs" she runs into en route when she pursues them. It seems like the horse is a plot necessity so she can escape from the dangers she encounters en route, which she does more than once. This seems contrived to me. It's beyond me why British officers serving in the Tasmanian outback would not have access to horses. Other than that this would have undermined the story.
I also don't understand why she is left alive after the soldiers kill her husband and baby. In fact, the ensign is ordered by the lieutenant to kill her yet he only hits her with the butt of his rifle, and she wakes up a day later to the nightmare her life has become. If these soldiers are ready to rape her in front of her husband, kill him and then kill her baby to stop it crying, it's clear they wouldn't have hesitated to kill her as well. In fact, that was the lieutenant's stated intention. Well, I do understand why she is left alive... the writer would not have had a story to tell, but it does seem improbable. And that troubles this viewer.
The ending is enigmatic, and there's no way to avoid that since this wasn't going to end well for her, after being involved in the murders of two soldiers in their rooms and really having no way to escape justice. If the film ran a few more minutes, it would have to depict her being hanged.
The only character who maybe survives to enjoy the remains of a happy life is maybe... her horse?
The cinematography is excellent, the scenery beautiful and haunting in spots and the music and singing do contribute greatly to the story . A film well worth viewing, IF you can tolerate some rough rape scenes and some bloody shooting and stabbing. Watch the credits since they explain that apparently a Tasmanian language was created for the movie, based on a "real" language. Interesting..