DINGO

Australia, 1992, 109 minutes, Colour.
Colin Friels, Miles Davis, Bernadette Lafont, Helen Buday.
Directed by Rolf de Heer.

Dingo is an Australian- French co-production. It was written by Marc Rosenberg and directed by Rolf De Heer (Incident at Ravens Gate, Bad Boy Bubby, Epsilon, Quiet Room, Dance Me to My Song).

This is a very handsome production, an accomplished piece of film-making on small budget. Filmed in Panavision, it has some breathtaking sequences of Western Australian desert locations and intercuts these with bright sequences filmed in Paris.

The title, misleading, refers to the character played by Colin Friels, John `Dingo' Anderson. He lives in outback Western Australia, is a dingo trapper. However, when he was a young lad, a jet landed unexpectedly on the tarmac of his town and a black jazz trumpeter and his band played an impromptu concert. It has served as vision and inspiration for him. He has a dream of composing and of going to Paris to play jazz.

The jazz trumpeter is played by the legendary Miles Davis (who died the year after the film was completed). Davis and Michel Legrand composed the original score (winning an AFI award, as did the sound engineering).

The film has a strong cast besides its principals. Helen Buday is very good as Dingo's wife. The French cast includes veterans Bernadette Lafont and Bernard Fresson.

The film combines the two worlds very well, using symbols of the trapped dingo who is able to escape its captivity - symbolising what should happen for Dingo himself as he deals with his life, relationship with his wife and family, his dream of composing and playing.

1. Entertaining film? For jazz fans? The dream and the vision? In the Australian context?

2. Western Australian bush locations, Perth? The use of the Panavision cameras? The contrast with the sequences in Paris? The styles of two different worlds? The filming of the jazz concerts, the jazz performances, editing and intercutting?

3. The impact of the score, the composers, the performances? Miles Davis's style? The jazz and its mood?

4. The title and audience expectations? Referring to John? The symbol of the dingo - wary, escaping the traps?

5. The opening and Dingo playing, the sound reverberating around the hills and the desert? The vistas? His memories: with Peter and Jane, the children, the game, the test of strength, the kissing? The noise of the plane, the whole town rushing out to the airport? Gathering, the plane and its landing - like a vision? Billy Cross and his band appearing, from another world, the decision to play, the performance? The people at a distance, watching and listening? The impact on John?

6. John's experience, the vision, the sense of music, the sound? Learning to play, playing and composing? The tapes and the letters going to Paris? The $300 for his trip? His hopes?

7. John as an ordinary young man, his relationship with Jane and the daughters? The house, the caravan? Scenes of family life, his relationship with Jane and his love and affection for her? At work, in the desert, the tracks, setting the traps, the shrewd dingo eluding the traps? Camping, playing in the desert? Back home, the band, the rehearsals, his being demanding and moody?

8. The portrait of Jane, authentic portrait of an outback wife, children? Their support of John? The friendships, Ruth and Archie and the other people in the town?

9. Peter, his return home, the memories of young friendships, his loneliness, the stories of his success, boat-building, his wife having left him? Being around, sharing with John and Jane? The question, what if...? His declaration of love for Jane? His promises to her? At the dance? The effect on Jane, her love for John, her listening to Peter, telling him to go? Her honesty? Dingo and his playing and wondering what was happening? Peter leaving, his return when Dingo went to Paris? The promises? The audience unsure about Jane's decision or not?

10. Dingo and Archie, Dingo being angry, perfectionist? Archie's reaction, the group setting up the telegram? Dingo's reaction, joy and celebration, buying the drinks? Being drunk, buying all the furniture, their refrigerator? The instrument for Archie? The telling of the truth? His anger, the second telegram, the men in the bar mocking him, punching Archie? His playing at the dance, with the group, imagining being with Billy Cross, his solo effort and oblivious to everyone else? Their amazement?

11. Miles Davis as Billy Cross, playing in the initial concert, talking with Dingo? His interest in his career? His manager trying to protect him? Yet his wanting to send the ticket for Dingo to come to Paris? The outline of his own career and success?

12. Dingo and the crisis, going out to work, Peter revealing the truth about the $3000? His decision not to go to work, going to Perth, confronting Peter, leaving him with the dog? The flight to Paris, the weekend, the man at the office and its being closed? Going to the bar, drinking the Depth Charges? Playing, abusing the police? To gaol? His being bailed out? Going to the Cross home?

13. The experience of the house, the gentleness of Billy's wife? The encounter with Billy, his not being so talkative, John wandering and watching Billy at work, the synthesiser? The background of Billy's career, the stroke, lack of confidence? His not wanting to listen to Dingo's tape - so as not to set up expectations and disappointment? Their talking, the good advice? In the car, the accident? Near the club, going in, being welcomed? Billy enabling Dingo to sit in? The exhilaration of sitting in, improvising, the playing of the trumpet, the performance? The response of the people, the exhilaration? Billy overcoming his difficulties and playing? The evening as a celebration? The fulfilment of his dream, his being able to return? His farewell to Billy, the kindness of Billy's wife? The support of the manager and his wife? The record?

14. Going home for the party, the flight, the drive, no-one at home, asking Ruth, the surprise party, Jane present with the daughters - and beginning a new phase of his life?

15. The world of Paris, the concierge and his collecting stamps, interested in Dingo (and the irony of his not knowing him when he came)? The manager and his harsh decisions? His wife and her sending the letters on? Billy's wife and her kindness? The people in the nightclub, the jazz fans, the proprietor? The players? The tradition of black American jazz players in Paris?

16. Life in the town, ordinariness, people at the pub, the post office, the band, people at the dance (with the long list of thank yous)? Ruth and Archie, the members of the band, the detail of life around the town?

17. The success of the co-production, the international flavour, blending Western Australian outback with sophisticated France?