BUSH CHRISTMAS
Australia, 1983, 91 minutes, Colour.
Jon Ewart, Nicole Kidman, John Howard, Mark Spain.
Directed by Henri Saffran.
Bush Christmas is a 1980s remake of the Australian classic film of the post-war period, Harry Watt’s Bush Christmas, which starred Chips Rafferty.
This film is in colour, has bush locations and scenery. It is the story of a family who have experienced drought and who are pinning their hopes on their horse, Prince, winning the New Year’s Day race. However, two crooks, played by John Ewart and John Howard, steal the horse. The children, with the aid of their Aboriginal friend Manalpuy, go into the bush to recover the horse.
This is a family feature, a genial kind of Australian family film. Of interest is that it is one of the earliest films for Nicole Kidman who went on to great success during the 1980s in Australian films and television and then became an international star, winning the Oscar for The Hours in 2002.
Direction is by Henri Safran who made a number of films in Australia, especially the well-received family film, Storm Boy.
1. An entertaining family film? Children's film? Australian audiences? Overseas? observation of a particular period, children, family, adventure? Message?
2. The popularity of the original film of the '40s? A contemporary film for contemporary audiences? The nostalgia of this version? its impact for an '80s audience?
3. The use of Queensland location photography: bush, the town, the grazing paddocks, the mountains? The atmosphere of the bush? The white view of the bush? Aboriginal view? English view? Australian summer, Christmas? The contribution of the musical score and its atmosphere? The Bushwackers? The songs and dances? The incorporation of aboriginal music and instruments?
4. Re-creation of the period: the Queensland bush town, family life, country dances, country race meetings? Decor, costumes etc.?
5. The atmosphere and difficulties: the father and the drought, the sale of the property, the estate agent and his overbearing attitudes? The cattle unable to be sold? The children and the stolen horse, the search? The father and his droving, search for his children? The mother and his running the house, concern? Finance, hopes? The celebration of Christmas?
6. The portrait of the Australian children - at home, the difficulties, on the back of the truck, the dance? Johnny and his shyness? Attitude towards girls? Mike and the English boy on holidays? Helen and her enjoyment of the dance? The humorous attitudes towards the 'Posh' cousin? Their decision to go to search for the horse? Their all going, riding, walking, hunger, rain and being drenched, drying their clothes, eating the lizard? The importance of Manalpug's presence? His prayers, contact with other aborigines, receiving guidance, from magic and song, food? His care for them? Helen's violating the sacred site? The catching up with Bill and Sly? The raid, the boots, the gun? The discovery of the old house - and the cobwebs and skeleton reminiscent of Miss Haversham in Great Expectations? Falling down the well and the water filling up? The rescue? Johnny letting go?
7. Bill and Sly as comic villains? John Ewart's and John Howard's skill at creating character, humour? Conmen? Their promotion of the group? Sly and his vanity, songs? His boots? The stealing of the horse and its difficulties? The trek through the bush? The rain, the cold, the soreness in riding, walking? Bill and his dreams? Confidence tricks and money? Pushing Sly? The end and his relenting - the hanging and the well?
8. Sly and his singing, clothes, slow-witted, gawky attitudes, jokes, fondness for his boots - and losing them? A figure of fun?
9. Ocker humour and mockery?
10. Manalpuy and the riding during the opening sequences, the hopes for the race, his presence with the group, acceptance? The raising of the aboriginal question? Place of the dance, in the house, leading the group in the search? Aboriginal rituals and music? The help of the tribe? Helen in the ring? The tribe not forgiving? Eating the lizard? The clash with Mike and his English attitudes and superiority? Helping the group to survive? Helping with the well? Winning the race – despite all the opposition and the hindrances from other jockeys? A picture of black-white relationships - from the '40s, for the '80s?
11. The sale of the property, the agent and his own horse and jockey? Double-dealing? The excitement of the race?
12. Themes of the land, pioneers, drought and difficulties, family spirit, exploitation? The spirit of the pioneers? Nostalgia for the past? The heritage? Aborigines? A family film?
