Watch Sweet Country

Sweet Country is an Australian Western drama film from 2017, directed by Warwick Thornton. The movie focuses on racism and brutality faced by Aboriginals in Australia during the 1920s, drawing inspiration from true historical accounts of the time. The story is set in the Northern Territory, where an Aboriginal farmhand named Sam Kelly (Hamilton Morris) is forced to flee into the desert after killing a white station owner in self-defense. A posse led by a veteran army sergeant named Fletcher (Bryan Brown) sets out to apprehend Sam and bring him to justice, while a local mission pastor named Fred Smith (Sam Neill) tries to mitigate the tensions between the two communities.

The film offers a stark contrast between the harsh desert landscapes and the brutal reality of racial tensions within Australia, at a time when Aboriginal people were not recognized as citizens and were treated as second-class citizens. The harsh reality that the movie portrays is one of the strengths of Sweet Country, making the audience connect with the characters and feel the devastating impact of racism.

The plot of the movie is simple but powerful, dealing with themes of conflict, injustice, and the struggle for survival. The characters are portrayed as complex individuals, with their fears, desires, and motivations, making it easier for the audience to understand and sympathize with them.

Hamilton Morris delivers a breakthrough performance as Sam Kelly, the Aboriginal farmhand fighting for his life and freedom, in a performance that is both powerful and nuanced. Shanika Cole also shines as Sam's wife, Lizzie, who tries to help him escape and survive in the harsh desert environment.

Sam Neill brings his acting skills to the role of the mission pastor, providing a moral center to the story that highlights the contrast between racial tensions and religious compassion. Ewen Leslie, who plays the station owner, is also excellent as a brute and racist man who abuses his power and authority.

The movie's cinematography, by Warwick Thornton, is stunning, capturing the harsh beauty of the Australian landscape and the complexity of the characters' moral dilemmas. The score of the film, composed by David Tranter and Steven Thornton, is also noteworthy, mixing traditional Aboriginal music with Western themes.

Overall, Sweet Country is a powerful, visceral, and thought-provoking movie that addresses important themes of Australian history that are still relevant today. The acting, cinematography, and music are all excellent, and the story conveys a strong message about the deep roots of racism and injustice in Australia's past. A must-watch for anyone interested in Australian cinema or social justice themes.

Sweet Country is a 2018 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 88.