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Quint sings along with Aussie musical BRAN NUE DAE starring Geoffrey Rush at Sundance 2010!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a brief look at Aussie musical BRAN NUE DAE.
Here’s what you will see in Bran Nue Dae that you won’t see in another film: a snake used to replace a broken engine belt, Geoffrey Rush shitting on the side of a road, a condom tree and a hot Aboriginal girl singing Stand By Your Man.
Listen, if you don’t like musicals this movie is going to make you want to jam pens in your ears and staple your eyes shut. Even if you only kind of like some musicals this one might be tough.
But I do like musicals… sappy, saccharine, ridiculous musicals, so, yeah… I really liked this movie about a young Aboriginal boy (Rocky McKenzie) who comes from a very religious family and is being groomed by his strict mother to become a priest. He’s sent to a boarding school in the big city of Perth, Australia run by Geoffrey Rush at his hammiest, a German priest who is trying to bring Christ to the “blacks” as he calls them.
There’s a confrontation, McKenzie forced to follow his heart and fight against the discrimination coming from the religious leaders at his school and it becomes a road movie as he tries to get home to the small town of Broome before news of his rejection of the school reaches his mother.
His ulterior motive is to save his beautiful semi-girlfriend from the Elvis-ish rock n’ roll singer who’s trying to steal her away.
On the way he picks up an old homeless dude who has a helluva voice and helps the young man on his long journey back home.
Ernie Dingo plays this old guy, known as Uncle Tadpole, as a kind of Aboriginal Uncle Remus, always with a song on his lips and some crazy, but still sage advice. I think he’s the reason I took to the movie so much. The dude has so much chemistry, a great singing voice and is just an all around character that’s fascinating to watch.
Now, I love Dingo in the movie and Geoffrey Rush is awesome as he chases down the hippie van taking our group (which also includes a young hippy couple, the girl being the incredibly adorable "Missy" Higgins) back to Broome, but I gotta say that McKenzie, the young lead, isn’t a good actor. He’s got something interesting, of course, a good look and he’s easy to sympathize with, but his line delivery leaves something to be desired. It actually kind of helps his character to look nervous all the time, but it does come across as a young actor’s stage fright.
And people who don’t like this kind of movie will tear the story apart… there is some lazy writing, filled with lots of coincidences and 180 character changes for no reason all in support of the fluffy, light good time the movie’s trying to give you. I recognized these moments as they passed, but I realized I was having such a good time I didn’t care.
Director Rachel Perkins utilizes the brilliant eye of cinematographer Andrew Lesnie (Lord of the Rings) to create a lush, beautiful period ‘60s Australia that does make you wish you were there. It just looks like a lot of fun and that fun translates, at least it did for me.
Take a look at the trailer to see what I’m talkin’ about!
See, ridiculous, but beautiful and fun. That’s the movie in a nutshell.
Another review down. Time to run off to my next movie! As usual you can follow me on Twitter to get my live Sundance thoughts!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Jan 24, 2010 3:35:21 PM CST
"Geoffrey Rush shitting on the side of a road"
by richard_gere_raped_my_gerbil
I'm sure that'll go down well with my popcorn!
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what's up with the misspelling of "Brand New Day?" Any particular meaning to that?
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Like Pidgeon English? I honestly don't know, but that was my guess.
Or it's a "Pursuit of Happyness" situation. -
seems like.
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Dude, it's Aboriginal... not Aborigine... As an Aussie I feel like I need to point this out - Saying Aborigine is akin to calling an African-American a Negro.
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Except that you can call an individual an aborigine, if that individual is of aboriginal descent. If you are referring to the group of aborigines, you should use the word aboriginal.
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to you?? Prick!!!
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Sorry, mate - But no... Aborigine is oldschool... like linking Negros to picking cotton and dancing around the fire at night to tribal drums... You just don't do it anymore.
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It is an unabashedly fun film, that had me leaving the theater with a huge smile. That said, it's pretty stupid. The ending tied everything up in such a ridiculous way that it almost makes you forget how enjoyable the rest of the film was. But it was. It was also a film that seemed to elicit either love or hatred (but there seemed to be more of the latter than the former) among the other viewers. The testing company was screening it in order to gauge whether or not they could go wide with it and I am pretty sure their answer was "no."
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I seriously hope you didn't confuse South Africa with Australia...
because it sure sounded like it....
"It may be my obsessive childhood viewings of THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY films and the CROCODILE DUNDEE movies, but I find the Aborigine tribes fascinating, visually and culturally."
Are you serious? ignorance.
Or... (benefit of the doubt) if it was a mistake and you were referring to the fact that u like films about indigenous people in general... wherever they may be, then perhaps it should read...
"...but I generally I find films about native Aboriginal tribes fascinating, visually and culturally."
but if it had been this way i think you may have included more interesting films... 'The Mission', 'Last of the Mohicans', even 'Avatar'. I know they are not comical genre but it kind of proves my point that you confused South Africa, with Australia...
...kind of a 'Palin' type moment there.
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...I wondered that too...
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would be nice
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I've been coming to this website for years and this is the first time I've actually joined - just to make this point to my fellow Australians.
Aborigine is a Noun. It is not a racist term. You would use it like this: "That man is an Aborigine".
Aboriginal is an adjective. It is not a politically correct term. You would use it like this: "That is an Aboriginal man."
The politically correct term for an Aboriginal person is "Indigenous Australian".
Aborigines are not offended by any of these terms. For their part, they refer to themselves as Black Fellas, although White Australia tries not to.
Please try to get it right and don't accuse people of racism when none existed.
Glad you enjoyed the movie Quint. I'm looking forward to seeing it myself. Ernie Dingo is a much-loved actor here in OZ. I'm glad he steals the show. -
It looks kind of fun....
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not because I thought he was being intentionally offensive, just because it reeks of American ignorance and disinterest about anything not American (which IS offensive). I'm in danger of painting in broad strokes myself so I'll stop there (and so I don't piss off my American rellies). But yeah using Aborigine like that just sounds like we've regressed 50 years.
The thing is even most Aussies don't realise the word Aborigine/Aboriginal only means indigenous/native person and has NOTHING intrinsically to do with Oz! Which may be why Indigenous people from different states like to be called by different names. Fair enough, considering an original tribe from opposite ends of the country is like someone from a different country and the dialects differ.
And Fleet - yeah, the whole picking cotton thing is why that teacher in Everyone hates Chris is so intentionally offensive and funny, but only because it's Rock making the joke, and why eventually even a black guy making those jokes will come in for the same criticism, payback or not. I love that show though. The Mum is a genius and I love Terry Crews too. -
I thought on first glance it was some Bollywood thing until I saw who was in it! And Missy Higgins can act?!
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Sorry, posted mine before I saw yours. Although Fleet and myself I think DID try to make clear we don't think Quint is racist, but that in general usage those terms aren't used that way any more except ironically by older Anglos who ARE racist. Not to stir it up any more but it is sorta analogous to Lucas and Jar Jar. I don't believe for a second he's racist, but you know, someone shoulda opened his eyes to how unintentionally offensive that character was. Fair?
The whole whitefellas/blackfellas thing is interesting to me. I don't see it as intrinsically offensive but I think white people equate it to an old-fashioned pigeon thing and so don't go near it. In the same way as a white American may shy from pointing out the "black guy" as if he might be saying they all look the same rather than being the one person there with darker skin than the others and therefore the most efficient way to single out that guy. I think context plays a big part on all this and while I don't think anyone from anywhere should be intentionally offended, I do believe non-racist Anglo whites are twice-shy about being tangentially from the most bloodthirsty Empire in history. For the record, while I know I'm not responsible, yes the "Apology" thing was and is important for many reasons. As for the blackfella one, I wish I was still in touch with an old schoolmate. He's fullblood and one of the 'stolen generation', so he'd have an interesting perspective I reckon. -
Rush looks like Richard Taylor on that poster!!
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And we DON'T say shrimp on the barbie Whether Hoges does or not, we generally don't). We say prawns, not shrimp, and maybe it's just me, but who on earth can afford seafood bbqs very often?! Just fyi. ;)
On that note, no-one here really uses "bloke" anymore, only the older generations. "Mate" is coming back with a vengeance though. -
I pretty much agree with Quint, but I had a somewhat more negative reaction.
Make no mistake, pretty much everything that is good about this film is thanks to Andrew Lesnie. The cinematography is drop-dead gorgeous and gives the whole thing a polished, big-budget film (the budget was probably equal to Lesnie's usual fee on a Hollywood film).
The story is fun, a fine fit for a musical, and Quint is dead right about Ernie Dingo - its a very good performance. He's also right about Mackenzie, who's performance is downright amateur.
The problem is that Rachel Perkins just isn't a good director. The fact the film looks so handsome but has a clunky, undisciplined quality to its pacing and technique says to me that Perkins, who is an Aborigine (which is the correct word, people0, is an affirmative action stunt. An aborigine AND a woman! Its a dream come true for the politically correct Screen Australia.
Just so you know - I have no problem with Aborigine's or women and film maker's, but I do have a problem with unqualified film maker's. Between this and Lurhmann's AUSTRALIA, I could understand the rest of the world thinking we're all a bunch of of amateurs.
Why can't someone develop a fun project like this, with great potential, and attach a technically proficient director from the arthouse scene who might execute it with some creativity? Get Kate Shortland or Neil Armfield or...hell why not Rolf De Heer? Or Robert Connelly? Pair them up with Andrew Lesnie and some good songs and you'll have a half decent movie! -
...My sentiments exactly.
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Aborigine should be perfectly acceptable as white-vader pointed out as well. Aborigine can also refer to the original inhabitants of a country. It is not exclusive to Australia.
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...To think that you actually believe that "Aborigine" is still an acceptable and common term in modern day vernacular... The Prime Minister used the term ONCE in his apology to the indigenous people, and even then he was quoting someone from generations ago... Perhaps try reading something other than a dictionary...
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All good points and fair. And I am glad that in modern Australia we do ask ourselves "Am I Being Racist?" I think it's the right train of thought and always better to be cautious and respectful. My comment was more in relation to Fleet claiming that "Aborigine" was racist and "Aboriginal" was not. Calling an Indigenous Australian an Aboriginal is no different to Aborigine, but it is bad English. The same calling a Chinese person "a Chinese". (Quint himself is guilty of bad grammar for "Aborigine Uncle Remus").
But I respect you both for erring on the side of caution and letting someone know the possible ramifications of terminology. Especially at this time of year.
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Another aussie here, and whilst I loved Samson and Delilah..this looks like another diabolical government funded misfire of epic proportions...its bad enough we give the world abortive and retarded shit like Australia, but this to me is every dumbed down cornball dramedy or comedy that has failed horribly...i guess there is a market for this kind of dreadful musical..
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in it, is bound to be earnest and intellectually lazy and immature...easily the most overated musical 'talent' in Australia..
too right eh 'guvna? -
musicals are something frank could get behind. why aren't there more? ---- use TANGENTIAL in a sentence: if you sunbathe naked, you will get tangentials
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Toldja not re-reading or researching any of my brain farts was going to backfire on me. Sorry for the Gods Must Be Crazy mistake. It's honestly been 15 years or so since I watched the movies, but for some dumbass reason I must have mixed those films up in my brain. I'll amend the review, with much apologies for being an idiot.
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Could you also adjust "hot Aborigine girl" and "young Aborigine boy" and use the word Aboriginal. Not only is your usage grammatically incorrect, it has also offended quite a few Australians on this talkback. For the record, the most culturally sensitive term would actually be "Indigenous Australian" (akin to African American). Thanks.
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thanks again for supporting an Australian film on your website.
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"That's right, ma".
"Colored People."
"NOOOOOOOOO!"
Props to Bloom County for calling out the idiocy so early. -
Well I certainly know Aboriginal folks wo refer to themselves as Aborigines!!! There is even a famous song! Also I think the so call Hot Aborigine Girls is being played by aust Idol contestant and pop star Jessica Mauboy - who I am pretty sure is from an Islander background. Cultuarl difference is an odd think - in Oz it is less insulting to call someone a "blackfella" than "Abbo" - it's all about connetations.
Does look like a fun film though! -
Sorry about the spelling- the films name must be getting to me!
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Are you SERIOUS? I have worked with several aboriginals, and there's no WAY I would ever refer to any of them as "blackfellas"... Danger mouse, it's "Less Insulting" - You may as well say "Fag" is less insulting than "faggot"... This entire line of conversation astounds me... It's like we've been thrust back into the 1950s...
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That is strange as most aboriginal guys I know call themselves "blackfellas" without any irony or self deprication. I would not use the term but they sure do. Again there is even a famous song "Whitefella...Blackfella" by The Warumpi Band.
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I think danger mouse's point was that the more offensive term is "Abbo" (second only to the C-word).
I have close ties to the "Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council", run almost exclusively by Indigenous people who all call themselves "black fellas" (even the women) and call the whites "white fellas". I don't use those terms but I still don't think they're racist. They're cheeky and irreverent, much like the Aboriginal people. They are names chosen by their community and in that way, makes them more politically correct then any name White Australia prescribes them.
I actually find this conversation interesting and healthy. I think its great to hear people's opinions on the finer points of racism and what people prefer to avoid. I don't agree with your opinion Fleet but I certainly respect it. Nothing 1950s about any of this at all. -
...doesn't mean Quint doesn't give a shit about anything outside of America. So sue him if he doesn't know the intricacies of the indigenous population of a country thousands of miles away from him. You probably couldn't tell me much about my home area.
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in that you are trying to create a problem that doesn't actually exist. If you were actually Australian, you would know that it acceptable to use words like aborigine and black fella in at least some situations. Quint's only mistake was using a noun instead of an adjective.
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And not being Australian, he can certainly be forgiven for that.
Thanks for making the corrections Quint. It's coming up to a "Australia Day" here in Oz, which always makes us Aussies a bit on edge with racial issues. -
Man, I refer to pretty much all the Black Fellas I know as Black Fellas. Never known anyone to be offended by it, any more than you would be offended at being called a White Fella (I presume). It's all about intent. I think Black Fellas feel more awkward about self-conscious white fellas who stumble around awkward terms like "Aborigine" or "Indigenous Australian", trying desperately to be Politicalluy Correct. Lighten up fellas.
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There is a fucking song in the movie called "There is Nothing I'd Rather be than an Aborigine". Okay? Now shut the fuck up with your pompous lecturing.
It is technically grammatically incorrect but it has taken on its own meaning and is a valid noun. For God's sake. -
Who is that directed at?
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In Australia, and particularly on Australia Day, patriotism is often heavily influenced by racism. Often "Aussie Pride" is nothing but a thin veneer with which white Australians abuse or threaten other races. Google the Cronulla Riots if you want a good example of what I'm talking about. Is this the case in the USA? Does it get worse around Independence Day?
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While I can't speak for non-whites, the Fourth of July has always felt like a good time for all, no bad feelings (and I grew up down South in Georgia). The fireworks display at Stone Mountain Park used to include a laser show that honors Confederates in one portion, but that's expected, as the park used to have a Civil War theme (not certain if it still does), and the relief sculpture on the mountain is also of Confederate leaders. Ask a black person from Stone Mountain if that was overtly offensive.Now I live in Washington State, where we buy most of our fireworks for personal use from American Indian reservations. I'm sure they enjoy the cash.
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born in the 1970's. Like I said, ask someone who isn't white.
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on the July 4th fun.
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Read my posts again dude. And note that I stated I did NOT think he was racist. I never said he didn't give a shit, only that his writing in the post made him sound like those that don't. There's nothing wrong with letting Quint know what we believe is the right way, and "so sue him" is not actually a defence. But it does invite ridicule for defending laziness, ignorance or both. Besides, Quint was cool with the criticism. You're being a bit small about it. Did you even bother to read the "Jerry" post?!
And hey, I even helped him out on the whole "shrimp on the barbie" thing!
For a TB where we're actually NOT flying off the handle and being outraged or offended while appropriately discussing semantics and usage, it's ironic you're making yourself look a bit silly by not bothering about the same, misunderstanding intent and getting uppity (which is a bit hypocritical considering you're calling me out on it) because of it. While the whole "spelling/grammar nazi" thing is moronic, in this thread it was prompted by the article, so there's nothing wrong in discussing it in the TB. Settle down mate, it's cool...
Back to the topic, Geoffrey rush can sing?! -
Shut up, you tosser
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Tosser? Okay. Well done you. This all started because Fleet claimed that the term "Aborigine" was racist and "Aboriginal" was not. This was followed by a lot of Australians (more than me) pointing out that he was wrong and the only difference was grammar. I also apologise that we're not all abusing each other like the Americans in here usually do. I'm sorry we're actually being polite and respectful to each other. As it stands, white_vader and I were simply defending Quint from being called a racist, while pointing out to Quint things he may not know/understand about our country. If that makes me a tosser so be it. I've obviously made a mistake in commenting on these forums, best left for the angry masses to come and abuse those who actually have something to talk about.
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i call them abodigeries. they laugh. we all laugh. just don't get too drunk with em. they can't handle the booze in high doses. but i know white fellas like that too. im not seeing this film on principal of it's title. it's spelled wrong and it pisses me off. gives me insight into who made the damn thing
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The white guilt is thick Down Under, my US friends. You could be forgiven for thinking that we had public lynchings before every meal to satisfy our racist bloodlust, if you were to believe the media and the PC thugs (who have become extremely vocal these past 12 months).
But the truth is; Australia is no more racist than any other country with a diverse array of ethnicities and cultures. However, useless handout-leeching progressive liberal university students and their weed smoking lecturers have determined that only white people are capable of racism -- conveniently ignoring racism and violence directed at white Australians from other ethnic groups.
Down here, you could be pack raped by 50 Lebanese men until your asshole dragged a hundred yards behind you wherever you went. But if you were to say that you thought the men were 'Arabs', you would be trotted out as evidence of how racist we Australians are.
You could live in a community of 10,000 aboriginals who do nothing but drink, beat the shit out of each other and sexually abuse family members (all on the taxpayer's dime, mind you), but if you were ever to tell people of the things you saw, you would be branded a racist who perpetuates false stereotypes.
Today is Australia Day, and it's going to be a bloody miserable experience thanks to the efforts of these whiny liberal know-nothings who have never spent a day out in the real world or the communities they seek to blindly defend, and the media (who all came from the same institutions). Now, everybody is afraid to show any type of national pride thanks to these cunts and their PC agenda, who have recently been equating the Australian flag and Southern Cross to the fucking Swastika!
And here's something people from other countries don't understand when they hear these stories about poor ol' racist Australia; we don't live like any other country in the world. We are laid back and we have a sense of humour. We all get along just fine until these twits start telling us we're doing it all wrong. We can have gay friends and call them faggots and cocksuckers and they'll insult us back, and we all laugh about it, because that's how Australians are. We can work and socialize alongside Italians, Greeks and Aboriginals and call them wogs and blackfellas, and they call us Skips or something else back, and we all go down to the pub at the end of the day and drink with each other.
Yes, when you take it at face value, it sounds like we all hate each other and we just insult and threaten each other non-stop. But that's not the truth of it at all. For ethnic groups that have assimilated into the overall Australian culture, they have tapped into the laid back way of life. Ask the Italian, Greek or Polish communities who have been here for decades how racist they think Australia is, and they'll just laugh and tell you to piss off.
So before these assholes convince you that Australia is just White people constantly attacking minority groups, keep in mind that it is a two way street. And the majority of the time, we all live together just fine and we laugh and make fun of each others differences. Label it any way you want, but until you've been at an Aussie party full of a dozen different ethnic groups, all giving each other shit in a friendly manner, then you just won't understand.
I'd rather be called an ignorant racist until the cows come home than have to stop having a playful Aussie camaraderie with my multicultural friends. And the PC idiots and media down here who are trying to poison something innocent and accepted, well they can pack their bags and fuck off back to England. -
From you:
"...not because I thought he was being intentionally offensive, just because it reeks of American ignorance and disinterest about anything not American (which IS offensive). I'm in danger of painting in broad strokes myself so I'll stop there (and so I don't piss off my American rellies)."
I understand that you don't want to paint in broad strokes, but your simple example didn't have to be said, because it speaks to the same ignorance of culture. What you say it "reeks of," to me, is offensive and extremely false.
That's all I was getting at. It just seemed like you wanted to have your cake and eat it too, and I don't consider that especially fair. -
You can't win the argument by saying "I have heaps of Aboriginal friends that call themselves blackfellas..." - Because the point doesn't stick... The problem is the completely ridiculous claims of 'ownership' and the rawkous complaints we hear when someone OTHER than an aboriginal claims something as their own... Hello, aren't we the only country in the world with two flags? Isn't Australia Day the day Aboriginals call "Invasion Day"? Doesn't every single single event we now throw in Oz get tsk tsk'd unless we first thank the native people of the land? Of COURSE an aboriginal can use the word aborigine... call themselves blackfellas... But trust me, the minute a caucasian person does the same, there's hell to pay - Trust me, I've seen it... Hell, what about the Russian figure skaters who are now being media-bashed because aboriginals are claiming they've 'stolen' their culture without permission... I mean what the fuck? You guys can wah wah wah about what's politically correct and what-not - But the REALITY of the situation is that the indigenous people of Australia have FOREVER claimed any chance they get... So no, I still don't think Aborigine is the right word - And it was only brought up originally by me in the fear that, whoops, clint might look a little backwards in his wording - But hell, now that the conversation has continued, it really has spun a tad out of control, wouldn't you say?
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need to get a fuckin life...its about showing people some respect...the way people whine on about political correctness just makes you wonder when they'd actually stand up in the face of something 'politically incorrect'...you know, shit like racism, and sexism..which continues rife across the planet.
Grow the fuck up and dont let politics rule your consciousness. -
Firstly, as a teacher of Indigenous Australians it is politically correct to refer to Australian Aborigines as Indigenous Australians. The correct terminology otherwise is, just that, Australian Aborigines. Aborigines is not a racist term and sorry Fleet, but mate you're just plain wrong when it comes to that. Aboriginals is jsut grammatically incorrect when referring to nouns. Aboriginal is as a previous poster identifies, an adjective.
Secondly, as for the Australians making fun of each other, the poster who says that Aussies are okay with calling each other fags and whatnot, that's a load of b.s. Sure, we're comfortable with that sense of self-deprication that we're all very good at but never is a derogatory word okay. And whilst that poster may think it's alright, as a gay man, if you ever call me fag buster expect an effing punch in the face.
As for the film's title it is in fact in pigeon or creole as it's referred to in Northern Queensland. It differs slightly all over the place but it refers to the everyday Aboriginal-English language spoken by a lot of the English-speaking indigenous communities.
The film is a pleasent-enough mess by the way; sweet and funny but forgettable in the end.
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