Samson and delilah is a 2009 australian drama film directed by warwick thornton and starring rowan mcnamara and marissa gibson, both young first time actors. Described as a survival love story by the director, the film depicts two indigenous australian 14yearolds living in a. Samson and delilah is the incredible biblical story of the old testament strongman samson brought to life on film. Finally, samson and delilah take off together in a stolen car, and live like mute children in desperately vulnerable, itinerant poverty in the city, where samsons addiction is such that he is. Samson and delilah 2009, the focus of this chapter. When tragedy strikes, they turn their backs on home and embark on a journey of survival. Jun 15, 2017 samson and delilah thus depicts trauma as a crisis of speech, a trope we can read as a reflection on representing indigenous suffering in contemporary australia. Australian postcolonial trauma and silences in samson and delilah.
However, looking at the film in a postapology context, a dual symbolism can be asserted. Winner of the cannes 2009 camera dor first feature award, warwick thorntons samson and delilah. Victor mature is the classic samson, muscular and fearless in his barehanded battle with a lion, his singlehanded assault on a thousand philistine soldiers, his struggle with a giant, and the. Samson and delilah is a powerfully confronting film which presents the complexities and realities of everyday life for many young indigenous people. Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer sunshiny day from the feature film samson and delilah as a high quality video download. Next on the agenda is the brand new west end cinema in dc and the gene siskel film center in chicago, with screenings to open up in california in december leading up to its dvd release on december 28th. Few firsttime feature filmmakers are greeted with the kind of accolades bestowed upon. After seeing that samson petrol sniffs, gonzo advises samson, that sh will f up your brain. Samson and delilah was released in australian cinemas on 7 may 2009. Watched the australian trailer below and the british trailer and already know that i will need time to recover after i see it. A gluesniffing boy and his girlfriend escape the governmentcontrolled nohope aboriginal community they live in and go to the city, alice springs, looking for a better life. May 06, 2009 samson and delilah barely speak to anyone, let alone enjoy a conversation with each other, as the former courts the latter. In this superb film the lead roles of samson and delilah are played by first times actors rowan mcnamara and marissa gibson who must have been in their teens when they acted in the film and they gave very convincing performances that shows the bleak lives of some australians, whilst at the same times showing a very sweet love story. Described as a survival love story by the director, the film depicts two indigenous australian 14yearolds living in a remote aboriginal community who steal a car and escape their difficult.
France 16 may 2009 cannes film festival czech republic 7 july 2009 karlovy vary international film festival canada 12 september 2009 toronto international film festival poland october 2009 warsaw film festival brazil 23 october 2009 sao paulo international film festival uk 24 october 2009 london film festival france 11. Music from the film original soundtrack on allmusic 2009. Apr 19, 2009 one week until we start shooting and warwick takes marissa and rowan to the community location of jay creek to rehearse. Although many harsh realities are shown in the film. In the film samson and delilah 2009 ideas are deeply developed by the director warwick thornton. Around the same time, samson is attacked in revenge for assault. This irony mixed with humour assists in displaying the culture of substance abuse in aboriginal communities. Few firsttime feature filmmakers are greeted with the kind of accolades bestowed upon australian director warwick thornton. Samson and delilah is a confronting and deeply humane film about two teenagers from a. The director has used visual film techniques to develop these ideas of how samsons young aboriginal village life was, how substance abuse is done by aboriginal teenagers and how they face violence and danger in alice springs. This odd, unnerving movie from australia, written and directed by warwick thornton, tells of two aboriginal teenagers in the. Set in an isolated community in the australian desert, samson and delilah is about the growing understated love between two indigenous australian teenagers. However, samson and delilah is not a didactic, socialrealist issue film with an axe to grind, but a skilfully crafted teen romance that is as beautiful as it is confronting. Sep 14, 2019 samson and delilah s world is small an isolated community in the central australian desert.
Love and social marginality in samson and delilah senses of. Described as a survival love story by the director, the film depicts two indigenous australian 14yearolds living in a remote aboriginal. Samson and delilah is a confronting and deeply humane film about two teenagers from a remote aboriginal settlement in central. A gluesniffing boy and his girlfriend escape the governmentcontrolled nohope aboriginal community they live in and go to the city, alice springs, looking for a. It won the camera dor for best first feature at the 2009 cannes international film festival and was nominated for afi awards, including best actor mcnamara, actress gibson, supporting actress mitjili gibson, editing roland gallois and original music score. Samson and delilah anish who ever can see the invisible. To play the downloadable video, you need quicktime 7. Lost, unwanted and alone, they discover that life isnt always fair but love never judges. Following his 2009 awardwinning film samson and delilah, warwick thornton continues to add to the likes of rabbitproof fence and ten canoes with his latest film sweet country.
Is there a documentary about the making of the film. Samson and delilah 2009 clip 1 on aso australias audio. Cinema, in a sense saved my life, but the interesting thing is where i am today, ive only just begun. Two teenage aborigines seek escape in australia the new. Like the film, the trailer speaks a language more visual than verbal. We dont need a map will open the 2017 sydney film festival warwick thornton. Scott wilson, chairman, alcohol education and rehabilitation foundation.
May 06, 2009 but, by the time young delilah cuts her hair out of respect for a dead relative about a third of the way into the film, samson and delilah has given its title a subtly layered meaning, and her act becomes a heartbreaking moment in which indigenous mourning tradition resonates with the bible story. In analysing how the film depicts trauma in form and content, the chapter discusses silence, historical inheritances and belonging as central concerns of the film. But the reference also invites us to consider the film, in its revisionist way, as a parable for our times, one made in celebration, rather than fear, of the resilience and the nurturing power of womankind. Samson and delilah film study by simon bean on prezi. Their silent love for each other takes them on a journey of survival. The film went on to win the awards for best new director and. Warwick thorntorns 2009 samson and delilah illustrates the difficult lives two teenagers endure in a remote aboriginal community near alice springs. Love and social marginality in samson and delilah senses. Samson and delilah thus depicts trauma as a crisis of speech, a trope we can read as a reflection on representing indigenous suffering in contemporary australia. Interview with warwick thornton, writerdirector of samson.
Samson and delilahs world is small an isolated community in the central australian desert. One week until we start shooting and warwick takes marissa and rowan to the community location of jay creek to rehearse. The australian film industry has always been obsessed with travelling back to colonial times to look at the atrocities and prejudice against indigenous people. Samson in particular has an almost wary look painted on his face. Though samson and delilah has not reached its desired us audience it is steadily expanding and your support is key to its success. Oct 04, 2012 victor mature is the classic samson, muscular and fearless in his barehanded battle with a lion, his singlehanded assault on a thousand philistine soldiers, his struggle with a giant, and the. And following an assault on her by strangers she too reaches for the petrol. When tragedy strikes they turn their backs on home and embark on. Warwick thorntons debut feature samson and delilah opens on a tiny remote community somewhere in warlpiri country, northwest of alice springs. At cannes on may 24, 2009, warwick thornton received the camera dor for samson and delilah. Comedy cute inspirational ministry movies music news popular popular hymns sermons devotionals.
That is a film that was criminally overlooked and still is. When tragedy strikes they turn their backs on home and. The world is a small place when youre samson and delilah an isolated community in the australian desert. Lost, unwanted and alone they discover that life isnt always fair, but love never judges.
Set in the northern territory in the 1920s, sweet country follows sam hamilton morris, a middleaged aboriginal farmer who kills a local white man in selfdefence. A few dilapidated houses are clustered next to a dirt road. Once you come back to your senses you may find yourself becoming suddenly aware. Camera dor award at cannes 2009 and has had success at toronto. Although the characters share their names with an illfated couple from a biblical epic, this samson and delilah are aboriginal 14yearolds from a tiny, dirtpoor. Theres a wry humour to watching the mercurial young man pursue the. Samson and delilah is a 1949 american romantic biblical drama film produced and directed by cecil b. The film had its world premiere at the melbourne international film festival in july. It is amazing that the audience fails to realize the films male protagonist during the entire movie. Demilles characteristically expansive retelling of the events found in the old testament passages of judges 16.
When tragedy strikes they turn their backs on home and embark on a journey of survival. As i write this, samson and delilah warwick thornton, 2009 has just been awarded the prestigious camera dor for best first feature film at the cannes film festival. Both samson and delilah acknowledge the phone as it rings, but both ignore it. Australian postcolonial trauma and silences in samson and. In analysing how the film depicts trauma in form and content, the chapter discusses silence. The event occasioned the following remarks from him. With rowan mcnamara, marissa gibson, mitjili napanangka gibson, scott thornton. The winner of the 2009 cannes camera dor, warwick thorntons samson and delilah, starts screening in new york city today. Curators notes samson and delilah 2009 on aso australia. May 14, 2014 following his 2009 awardwinning film samson and delilah, warwick thornton continues to add to the likes of rabbitproof fence and ten canoes with his latest film sweet country. Adelaide film festival bigpond audience award for best feature.
Accepting the award on behalf of himself and producer kath shelper, the films multitalented writer, director and cinematographer, warwick thornton, said. A judge from the biblical book of judges, samson was a very unique character, known for his rebellious nature and uncontrollable anger. What better way to see a film about teenagers living in an aboriginal. It depicts the biblical story of samson, a strongman whose secret lies in his uncut hair, and his love for delilah, the woman who seduces him, discovers his secret, and then betrays him to the philistines. The director has used visual film techniques to develop these ideas of how samsons young aboriginal village life was, how substance abuse is done by aboriginal teenagers and how they face violence and danger in. Rowan mcnamara, marissa gibson, mitjili gibson, scott thornton. I havent yet seen it blu ray at least avail in canada. Apr 01, 2010 finally, samson and delilah take off together in a stolen car, and live like mute children in desperately vulnerable, itinerant poverty in the city, where samson s addiction is such that he is. Some critics believe the phone is a onedimensional symbol, inserted to represent the isolation of the town. Jun 02, 2019 samson and delilah is a powerfully confronting film which presents the complexities and realities of everyday life for many young indigenous people.
Anyone who has been driven to despair by the sorry state of contemporary australian cinema had better. Delilah marissa gibson and nana mitjili gibson you wont be alone if you come out of samson and delilah in a dreamlike state, as the mesmerising power of this new australian film is overwhelming. A young man in a darkened room stays in bed, sniffingmore. May 14, 2009 14 may 2009 written, filmed and directed by warwick thornton. Samson and delilah a concerto for two persons and life.
935 521 399 1439 811 486 170 1092 658 1156 914 865 1076 521 488 503 212 1017 1509 358 562 1425 1563 1175 1231 387 312 1350 101 576 498 769 1167 1487 554 944 724 286 1314 931 10 784 227 1000 432 1353 598 259 368 1309