The film is set in the small aboriginal community of Wala Wala, 600 km's south west of Alice Springs in remote outback Australia, where tough cop Ray Lorkin (Bryan Brown) tries to maintain some semblance of peace and harmony between two cultures that are essentially at odds with one another. Simmering racial tensions explode in the community when Tony (former Gladiators' host Aaron Pederson), a cocky young aboriginal labourer, seduces Katie (Angie Milliken), a teacher's wife, on a sacred aboriginal site. The elders of the tribe conspire to punish the pair according to ancient laws, and

James Bartle's cinematography is superb, wonderfully capturing the harsh, arid beauty of Australia's dead heart. The almost simmering heat of the locations perfectly underscores the tensions and conflicts that are at the dramatic heart of the film.

Theatre veteran Parsons has made his feature film debut with this timely, provocative and extremely relevant drama, but his somewhat simplistic approach will probably offend many liberals yet cheer the less enlightened. The film explores many of the stereotypical images of indigenous people, as well as trying to present a fairly balanced view of the many problems that beset them, largely due to ignorance and arrogance. There is also some tacit criticism of the way in which white teachers and clergy try to impose their views and ideals over the top of centuries of tradition and tribal lore without thought towards the consequences. Ultimately though, the film is far too ambitious as Parson tends to bite off more than he can handle, and Dead Heart leaves one with a sense of acute disappointment. The mystery elements of the plot are not very suspenseful or convincing, and the pacing is at times a little slow and muddled.

Actor Bryan Brown gives a perfect, understated performance as the conflicted sheriff in this Australian interpretation of a classic weste

Some topics in this essay:
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