High Ground (2020 film)

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High Ground
High Ground 2020 film poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay byChris Anastassiades
Story by
Produced by
  • David Jowsey
  • Maggie Miles
  • Witiyana Marika
  • Greer Simpkin
  • Stephen Maxwell Johnson
Starring
CinematographyAndrew Commis
Edited by
Production
company
High Ground Pictures
Distributed byMadman Films
Release dates
  • 23 February 2020 (2020-02-23) (Berlin)
  • 28 January 2021 (2021-01-28) (Australia)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

High Ground is a 2020 Australian meat pie Western film directed by .[1][2]

It premiered at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on 23 February 2020 with a gala screening, and was selected for the Berlinale Special section.[3][4][5][6] The film was originally slated for release in Australia on 9 July 2020;[7] this was later changed to early 2021,[8] until a further announcement on 1 October 2020 revealed the Brisbane International Film Festival would host the Australian premiere.[9] It was also shown in the Adelaide Film Festival from 17 October, with several extra sessions added to the original schedule.[10]

The film was released theatrically in Australia on 28 January 2021 by Madman Films.[2][11]

Premise[]

After fighting in World War I as a sniper, Travis, now a policeman in northern Australia, loses control of an operation that results in the massacre of an Aboriginal Australian tribe in 1919. After his superiors insist on burying the truth, Travis leaves in disgust, only to be forced back twelve years later to hunt down Baywara, an Aboriginal warrior whose attacks on new settlers are causing havoc. When Travis recruits mission-raised Gutjuk, the only known massacre survivor, as his tracker, the truth of the past is revealed and Travis becomes the hunted.

Cast[]

Production[]

The film was shot on location in the Kakadu National Park and in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The film was a High Ground Pictures production. It was financed by Screen Australia, Maxo Studios, Screen Territory, Film Victoria, Bunya Productions and Savage Films.[12]

Reception[]

On Rotten Tomatoes, High Ground holds an approval rating of 89% based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A gripping action story as well as sobering commentary on colonialism, High Ground is a vividly engrossing attempt to grapple with Australian history."[13]

The Film Critics Circle of Australia named High Ground the Best Australian Film of 2021.

Accolades[]

Award Ceremony
date 		Category Subject Result Ref
AACTA Awards 8 December 2021 Best Film David Jowsey Nominated [14]
Witiyana Marika Nominated
Maggie Miles Nominated
Greer Simpkin Nominated
Stephen Maxwell Johnson Nominated
Best Direction Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Chris Anastassiades Nominated
Best Actor Simon Baker Nominated
Jacob Junior Nayinggul Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Sean Mununggurr Nominated
Jack Thompson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Esmerelda Marimowa Nominated
Best Cinematography Andrew Commis Nominated
Best Editing Jill Bilcock Nominated
Karryn de Cinque Nominated
Hayley Miro Browne Nominated
Best Costume Design Erin Roche Won

References[]

  1. ^ Groves, Don (5 November 2018). "Simon Baker, Callan Mulvey, Jack Thompson reach 'High Ground'". IF Magazine. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b Goodsell, Luke (27 January 2021). "High Ground: Yolngu Boy director Stephen Maxwell Johnson and elder Witiyana Marika reunite for Northern Territory Western". ABC News. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (22 February 2020). "Berlinale Gala Player 'High Ground' With Simon Baker Sells to Samuel Goldwyn (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. ^ Lodge, Guy (23 February 2020). "'High Ground': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (24 February 2020). "'People weren't ready': Australian massacre aired at Berlin festival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  6. ^ Dalton, Stephen (23 February 2020). "High Ground: Film Review Berlin 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Bunya's High Ground official Australian release date revealed". Bunya Productions. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  8. ^ "High Ground will be coming to Australian cinemas early 2021". 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020 – via Facebook.
  9. ^ "BIFF 2020 – An Unmissable Season of Cinema". Brisbane International Film Festival. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  10. ^ "High Ground". Adelaide Film Festival. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  11. ^ "High Ground – In Cinemas January 28". Madman Films. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  12. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2 November 2018). "Playtime Acquires Australian Action Film 'High Ground' with Simon Baker (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  13. ^ "High Ground (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Winners & Nominees". AACTA. Retrieved 18 January 2022.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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