Samson & Delilah (2009) starring Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Mitjili Napanangka Gibson, Scott Thornton, Matthew Gibson directed by Warwick Thornton Movie Review

Samson & Delilah (2009)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson in Samson & Delilah (2009)

Why Why Why Delilah

I was told by several people who know that I love foreign cinema that I must watch "Samson & Delilah" the debut movie of director Warwick Thornton, And to be honest "Samson & Delilah" was compelling, an original piece of film making which takes us into the world of two aborigines who are lost without purpose. The thing is though whilst I think Thornton has delivered a stunning movie it also feels like a movie for those who are more connected with the situation in the storyline, be it Aborigines who can associate with the life and difficulties portrayed or Australians who encounter the lost generation shown in the movie. It doesn't totally alienate those like me who everything they witness is a totally foreign world but I feel some of the movies power is in being able to empathise with various aspects.

For Samson (Rowan McNamara) each day is the same, after waking and taking a long hard sniff of petrol fumes he mooches around the small aboriginal community putting up with his brother and mates playing ska music all day till night comes. For Delilah (Marissa Gibson) life also has a routine as she cares for her elderly Nana (Mitjili Napanangka Gibson), cooking meals, making sure she takes her medication and helping with the native art she creates. But life changes when first Samson snaps and attacks his brother and when Nana dies the local women attack Delilah accusing her of not caring for her. It leads to them both leaving and roaming into civilization where they discover life is no better for two young Aborigines.

Scott Thornton as Gonzo in Samson & Delilah (2009)

So as already mentioned I do believe that "Samson & Delilah" is a movie which will speak volumes to those who have encountered the modern Aboriginal life style because it won't seem so alien to them. Having said that it doesn't completely alienate those who are not aware of it and for me it has to be said that there was a lot of shocking elements to the movie. Now there were some big shocks such as when later on in the movie something happens to Delilah as she walks a city street but the daily routine of Samson is also a shock as he lives life without a purpose seeking escape in the fumes from his can of petrol. It does open your eyes to the plight of the young Aborigines whose traditions have gone as civilization has crept in but not enough to offer stability.

But the thing which really makes "Samson & Delilah" compelling is Warwick Thornton's style and the silence which Samson lives in and often Delilah makes it a fascinating movie. You are hooked on every look they give each other because it is the look which provides the narrative from a look of despair on Delilah's face as she discovers Samson stoned out of his mind again to the look of guilt on Samson's face when he notices Delilah has gone after coming around from the petrol fume haze he has been in. In many ways it is because we have this almost silent drama that "Samson & Delilah" ends up grabbing your attention as too much dialogue, and there is some, would have ruined that almost element of mystery.

I also have to say that Thornton's use of the surroundings be it shots of the wonderful countryside to the dirt of life under a fly-over is brilliant. It is again a big part of the reason why for me "Samson & Delilah" was so compelling taking me into a world I have never encountered but one which felt both real and heartbreaking.

What this all boils down to is that I am sure for those who can empathise with the characters in the movie "Samson & Delilah" is a very powerful movie. But whilst it didn't alienate me the more impressive side for me was Thornton's direction which alongside two exceptional performances made it compelling from start to finish.


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