A FAR-OFF PLACE

US, 1993, 105 minutes, Colour.
Reese Witherspoon, Ethan Randall, Jack Thompson, Sarel Bok, Robert John Bourke, Maximilian Schell.
Directed by Mikael Salomon.

A Far Off Place is an African adventure, a children’s film with more than a touch of peril. It focuses on two children, two adolescents, one played by Ethan Randall (later known as Ethan Embrey) and a young Reese Witherspoon (who was to become a very successful star in the late 90s). There is an appearance by Jack Thompson and Maximilian Schell.

The film focuses on the Kalahari Desert, on the African who guides the two children through the desert to safety after the perpetrators of a massacre at the gamekeeper’s farm pursue them to kill them because they were witnesses. In some ways, this is reminiscent of the plot of the very popular The Gods Must Be Crazy.

The film is marked by African location photography, a sense of adventure – and geared for adolescent and younger audiences.

1. An entertaining children’s adventure? The reality of the massacre, the pursuit through the desert? The realm of fantasy and the adventure of the children guided by the African through the desert to safety?

2. The African locations, the desert, its dryness, beauty? The animals? The musical score?

3. The title, Africa as a far-off place for other children from all around the world?

4. The basic situation, the families, the gamekeepers, the surviving on the farm, the bore water? The poachers, their illegal trade, their brutality? Their massacre, pursuing the children? The law?

5. Harry and his character, his arrival, the Walkman, his disdain? The dynamite, the cat food? Following Nonnie? His learning to care for the bush, his scepticism, bush lore and its importance during their trek?

6. Nonnie, her place in the homestead, wit, her attitude towards Harry, the clash with him, teaching him?

7. The adults, nice people, Captain Theron and his place? Ricketts – the fire, the murder, the ransacking of the homestead, the brutality, Nonnie witnessing what went on, the escape?

8. Xhabbo and his place in the bush, the desert, his helping the children? The trek through the desert, his care for them? The decision about the desert, the long trek, his wisdom, finding water, providing food, heat, the coat? The shrewdness of the dummies being shot? Weariness, drawing on their spirit? The transformation of the three because of their trek through the desert?

9. John Ricketts, the truth? The hypocrisy of Theron, the plane, the shooting? The poachers? The helicopter? The shaft?

10. Theron and his support? A new start?

11. Harry and his deciding to stay? What drew him to Africa, the experience, the change, Xhabbo and his guidance, the interactions with Nonnie?

12. The moral of the story about Africa, the enterprise, honesty? Survival in the desert? The Africans helping the visitors and newcomers to the country?