Rent The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)
3.6 of 5 from 90 ratings
2h 2min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Based on the early 20th-century exploits of Jimmy Governor, Jimmie Blacksmith (Tommy Lewis) follows its title character, a half-Aboriginal, half-white young man attempting to make his way as a farmhand, but facing only prejudice and deception from society. When the parentage of his child is called into question and he is further robbed by his white employers, Jimmie's barely suppressed rage explodes, triggering a wave of violence that would shock a nation.
- Actors:
- Tommy Lewis, Freddy Reynolds, Angela Punch McGregor, Ray Barrett, Jack Thompson, Steve Dodd, Peter Carroll, Ruth Cracknell, Don Crosby, Elizabeth Alexander, Peter Sumner, Tim Robertson, Ray Meagher, Brian Anderson, Jane Harders, Julie Dawson, Jack Charles, Arthur Dignam, Robyn Nevin, Gregory Apps
- Directors:
- Fred Schepisi
- Producers:
- Fred Schepisi
- Writers:
- Fred Schepisi, Thomas Keneally
- Studio:
- Eureka
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama
- Countries:
- Australia
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 26/08/2019
- Run Time:
- 122 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- 'The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith'- Australian Version (122 mins)
- 'The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith' - International Version (117 mins)
- Brand new and exclusive audio commentary by film critic and writer Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (Australian Version)
- Audio commentary by director Fred Schepisi (Australian version)
- Interview with Fred Schepisi (39 mins)
- Celluloid Gypsies: Making "The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith" (36 mins)
- A conversation with director Fred Schepisi and cinematographer Ian Baker (64 mins)
- The Chant of Tom Lewis-interview with Tom E. Lewis (26 mins)
- Q&A session with Fred Schepisi and Geoffrey Rush, from the 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival (34 mins)
- Making us Blacksmiths - Documentary on the casting of Aboriginal lead actors Tom E. Lewis and Freddy Reynolds
- Theatrical Trailer
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Reviews (1) of The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith
Race War - The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith review by Steve
Australian period epic adapted from Thomas Keneally's outback novel. This in turn is loosely based on the real life murders of settlers by a mixed race Aboriginal at the start of the 20th century. These events are then situated within an undeclared war between the indigenous people and the colonials.
So it's a political film, which couldn't find an audience at home. The cruel, ignorant racism allows the approach to be broadly sympathetic to the oppressed natives, despite the horrifically bloody slaughter. Jimmie Blacksmith (Tommy Lewis) can't get a break, until he cracks, and haphazardly strikes back.
Director Fred Schepisi is a bit of a journeyman and the script isn't skilfully dramatised, though the narrative is compelling and the location photography (in Panavision) spectacular. The most effective scene is when the fugitives repair the wreckage of an ancient Aboriginal meeting place, covered in profane graffiti.
Eventually there's an editorial from a hostage schoolteacher (Peter Carroll) which lists the iniquities of the British conquistadors. Schepisi called this an Aussie western, but it's really more of a historic political drama. In prioritising the perspective of indigenous protagonists, this is ahead of its time.
*there is constant realistic racist language.
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