Plot & Characters
This character, played by Jacob Junior Nayinggul, is a young Aboriginal man caught between two worlds.
Gutjuk
The film portrays the vast divide between Indigenous Australians and European settlers, reinforcing this key theme.
cultural conflict
The film is set in this country during the early 20th century.
Australia
The film’s naturalistic use of sunlight and shadow highlights this visual technique.
natural lighting
High Ground was directed by this Australian filmmaker
Stephen Maxwell Johnson
This former soldier-turned-police officer, played by Simon Baker, struggles with his role in colonial violence.
Travis
The struggle between loyalty to family and the pressure to assimilate is a central conflict in Gutjuk’s journey, highlighting this theme.
identity and belonging
The film is inspired by real events from this period of violent conflict between settlers and Aboriginal people.
Frontier Wars
isolation of the characters is shown thorugh...
The wide, sweeping shots of the landscape
Johnson's film High Ground was released in what year?
2020
Gutjuk is raised by this person after his family is massacred.
Claire
The them of oppression and resistance is shown through...
the imbalance of power in colonial Australia, particularly the violent suppression of Indigenous resistance.
The Northern Territory setting reflects the experiences of this First Nations group, featured in the film.
Yolŋu people
handheld camerawork is used when...
during action sequences and moments of conflict to heighten tension.
The film was shot in this Australian region, known for its breathtaking landscapes
Arnhem Land
This ruthless leader of the colonial forces orders violent suppression of the Aboriginal people.
Moran
Travis’ internal struggle over his past actions highlights this psychological theme.
guilt and redemption
The massacre in the film mirrors real-life attacks carried out by this colonial police force.
Native Police
This camera shot is used in tense conversations and gunfight scenes, showing part of a character’s shoulder or head while focusing on the person they are facing.
over-the-shoulder shot
Before becoming a filmmaker, Stephen Maxwell Johnson grew up in this Australian city, which influenced his storytelling and connection to Indigenous culture.
Darwin
This character, a powerful Aboriginal warrior and Gutjuk’s uncle, seeks justice for his people.
Baywara
The film emphasises the deep connection between Indigenous Australians and the land, exploring this theme.
Country and spiritual connection
Many Aboriginal resistance fighters, including Baywara, are portrayed as engaging in this form of armed resistance.
guerrilla warfare
The dramatic music that plays over tense moments in the film, which the characters cannot hear, is an example of this type of sound.
non-diagetic sound
The film was praised for its collaboration with Aboriginal communities, a process known as this.
cultural consultation