Award-winning director-cinematographer Warwick Thornton – a cinematography graduate of AFTRS – has crafted a poignant story about two Aboriginal teenagers living in a remote community in the Northern Territory described in the Age today by Paul Kalina as
” a film of delicate simplicity and gut wrenching power”
The film had its world premiere at the Adelaide film festival a couple of days ago and much buzz is already swirling around industry circles about the power of Samson and Delilah.
The journey of the two key characters – ‘Samson’ and ‘Delilah’ – played by newcomers to the screen Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson – traverses many of the most pressing issues facing indigenous people in Australia such as homelessness, poverty, domestic violence and substance abuse but it does so with a delicate hand. Kalina goes on to say in his piece Australian film is alive and kicking goals:
(it) …..”transcends race politics and announces a filmmaker of rare talent and skill……..”
Thornton and Producer Kath Shelper intentionally made the film with a small crew and on a lean budget with Thornton taking on dual key creative roles of Director and Cinematographer in order to create an intimate production environment.
The result is a film that presents an unadorned truth to the audience that is deeply touching.
Samson and Delilah will have its Sydney premiere on May 7 at the Message Sticks festival followed by a limited theatrical release.
pic: film still from Samson and Delilah