RED DOG, TRUE BLUE

Australia, 2016, 92 minutes, Colour.
Levi Miller, Bryan Brown, Jason Isaacs, Hanna Mangan Lawrence, Thomas Cocquerel, Justine Clarke, Steve Le Marquand.
Directed by Kriv Stenders.

After the immediate success and popularity of the initial Red Dog, it was, perhaps, inevitable that that would be a sequel. In fact, story -wise, it is a prequel.

Somebody asked whether this film was as cute as the original, cute in a good sense, pleasing, attractive, engaging. Well, it is.

The director is again Kriv Stenders who was able to bring the first dog story to life, a story of Western Australia and the Pilbara, a mixture of fact, reminiscence and legend.

So, how to create a credible prequel? One of the bright ideas is to show a busy father in Perth expected to take his son out to a movie – and they go to see Red Dog. The son would love to have a dog but his father is adamant – although, his son sees his father’s eyes moistening as he watches the film. When they go home, the father reveals that red dog was actually his. And so, the bulk of the film is a flashback to his childhood, returning to the father and his storytelling every so often, and audiences then understanding why it was at the beginning of the original film that Red Dog was wandering North.

The story of the young lad, Mick, has everything going for it. Young boys (and girls) can identify with him and his experience of finding the dog, covered in dirt and so called Blue but, when washed, he is red. The boy has to move up to a farm in the Pilbara because of his mother being hospitalised. He goes to live with his mother’s father, a fairly straight up and down man, especially so as he is played by Bryan Brown, an actor who can deliver any line in a very Australian way without it sounding like script. He is one of the most natural of our Australian actors and has some good opportunities here, sometimes being crusty and authoritative, sometimes being softer-hearted.

And, with the film set around 1970, who is one of Grandpa’s great friends who visits the house, shares a meal, and plays banjo with Grandpa – a friend who predicts that the future of the Pilbara will be in iron, none other than Laing Hancock (played by John Jarratt).

Mick and Blue range around the property, even discovering a cave with aboriginal paintings and a special stone which one of the hands on the property explains should not be taken because it is sacred. Later, Mick, jealous of one of the workers because of his attraction to his tutor, the young woman, Betty (Hanna Mangan Lawrence), takes the stone and interprets all the havoc that ensues, storms, bushfires threatening the property, as a consequence of his actions.

As well as the reminder of the mining of iron in the Pilbara, there are references to Saigon and the Vietnam war, the singing of songs of the period, a Chinese cook with an umbrella, quite a number of aboriginal characters (and the final credits pay tribute to aboriginal collaboration with the film), and two of the hands, Big John and Little John thought of as close brothers when they are not. These are points for the adult audience.

In the meantime, the younger audiences will be identifying with Mick and all his adventures, happy to be in the company of Blue, and, at the end, coming to realise how it was that Mick had to go back to his father and Blue went on the road to become Red Dog.

And, there is a new very younger generation who will want to see this film since the original was released. Good Australian storytelling.

1. The impact of the original film? The dog, humans, Western Australia, the Pilbara? Audience anticipation for another film?

2. The film is a prequel, the story of red dog, as True Blue – and the personal story?

3. The opening of the film, the dog, wandering, found, companionship, in nature, skills, the bonding and action?

4. The Western Australian locations, Perth, the cinema? the open spaces, the homestead, the mountains, the roads? The musical score?

5. The cast, the Australian tone? The home audiences? Overseas?

6. The popularity of dog stories, the children, for adults, children and dog stories?

7. Perth, the idea of the prequel? The father, son, wife? Hard work, going out, the boy wanting a dog? Going to the film? Seeing Red Dog, the father crying, the son noticing it? Going home, the issue of the dog, the father’s feelings? The boy in bed? The father deciding to tell the story – and this scene recurring throughout the film?

8. The story, Mick and his parents, his mother in the institution, going to live with his grandpa, arriving, the open plain, the horse pursuing him? The house, his room? The cook and his umbrella? The same meals each day? The workers, the aborigines, the cook, the woman doing the washing?

9. Grandpa, his property, cattle, a staunch Australian, his way of life? His bond with his daughter, his grandson? At the meal table, the same meals, the conversation?

10. Mick, his age, experience, willing to learn, finding the dog, washing it, the name, the dog not to be in the house, in bed with Mick, the grandpa letting it be?

11. The range of adventures, shared, the bond, lively, finding the cave, the stone?

12. The workers, Big John and Little John and their relationship? The young man singing, Blue barking while he sang, his serving in Vietnam? The aboriginal lad, the warning about the
stone in the cave?

13. The need for education, Betty coming, young, Mick and his infatuation, the lessons, her story and hopes? The young man singing, at the meal, Blue barking? At the gathering, Mick and his jealousy? The young couple kissing?

14. The visit of Laing Hancock, playing the banjo with grandpa? His discussion about the future of the Pilbara and iron?

15. Mick, deciding to get the stone, pointing at the horse, the horse hit by lightning? Pointing it at the young man? The range of disasters, the storm, his running away with Blue, the bushfires and his return, fighting the fire?

16. Betty leaving?

17. Going back into the cave, throwing the stone back, the darkness, Blue leading Mick out?

18. The taunt about his mother, apologies? His having to leave, go to be with his mother? The farewell?

19. Leaving Blue behind – Blue wandering, the story being told, and his transformation into a Red Dog?