final notes "high ground", year 12 VCE notes

year 12 notes

1. ‘HIGH GROUND’ VIEWING NOTES
Scene Plot, Characters & Quotes
Major Characters:
Gutjuk
Travis
Baywarra
Moran
Minor Characters:
Eddy
Gulwirri
Darrpa
Claire
Braddock
Walter
Bruce
and more.
Themes, ideas, concerns
For example:
Identity:
Cultural Identity
Spirituality
Beliefs
Family
Loyalty:
Allegiance
Power:
Violence
Hypocrisy
Justice/injustice
Prejudice
Vengeance
Voice and agency:
Choice
Autonomy
Courage:
Morality
Bravery 
SFCV
For example:
Symbols:
- Fire
- Guns and Spears
- Birds, crocodiles & other native wildlife
- Horses
- Water
- Clothing/self-presentation
- The natural landscape
- The church
- Food
Film techniques:
- camera angles/movement
- shot size
- composition (mise-en-scene)
- sound (diegetic, non-diegetic)
- colour and lighting
- editing/scene transitions
Structural choices:
- representations of time and place
- narrative sequencing
- beginnings and endings

2. - focalisation and perspective
1.Opening The opening of the film is with a
diegetic sound.
Drone to film the Nimbuwa rock.
This is because they want the
audience to have a clear
understanding of the setting of
the film and where it has
happened. It also connects with
the theme of connection with
country because it is showing
the most important parts of
Arnhem land.
The diegetic sound mixes with
the Indigenous singing in the
back which gives the audience
the idea that the film is about
people in the Arnhem land and
indigenous people.
The Caption with the setting of
the film (Arnhem land).
Brides sound in the background.
Example annotations:
Connection to country
This sense shows the importance of the
Arnhem land and how there is a strong
connection between the people of the
land and the land itself.
The caption gives an idea to the
audience about the setting of the film.
Example annotations:
Setting: Arnhem Land, 1919, indicated by chyron.
Diegetic sound evokes the atmosphere of
Australian environment and establishes theme of
connection to country
Indigenous song and percussion are introduced
over long establishing shots of Australian
landscape, which establishes a connection
between the two.
The camera flies high and rotates around
significant landmarks in an unbroken shot,
alluding to the ‘high ground’ of the title.
This perspective also and establishes the bird
motif through a literal ‘bids-eye view. Bird calls
heard over the title card reinforce this motif.
2.Gutjuk’s beginnings
(0:02:27)
Baywarra’s totem is the snake whilst
Gutjuk’s is the crocodile. How are these
totems symbolic of their characters?
The totems are a part of the Yolngu
Themes:
1.Identity: Baywara teaching Gutjuk
about the meaning of his name and his
totem, which this is where Gutjuk’s
Why does Johnson start Gutjuk’s narrative with
close-up shots of him painting himself with ochre?
This scene is brought in the orientation of the film
to show the connection of Gutjuk to his culture

3. people’s identity, and it is how they will
be described or appear throughout the
film. The totems characterise what
happens afterwords throughout the
film.
Snake: venialness and dangerous and it
is always inferior and on the ground.
Crocodile: it symbolises how Gutjuk
waits for the target to settle and not
frustrate just like when he takes Travis
out to look for Baywara.
Hawk: Gutjuk having the high ground.
Describe the relationship between
Gutjuk and his uncle, Baywarra.
when Gutjuk is trying to haunt it shows
how he cannot haunt properly (not
formed identity properly), and his dad
and uncle are teaching them how to
haunt properly. This shows how
Gutjuk’s identity is formed throughout
his childhood through learning from his
family and uncle.
“Just watch and learn. One day your
time will come to be a hunter.” How do
Gutjuk’s father’s words foreshadow his
journey?
This Foreshadows that Gutjuk would be
better in what he would do in the future
because by then, he would have a
complete Indigenous identity that
identity is being formed.
2.Spirituality: their traditional dances and
moves along with the weapons they use
is a form of connecting to the land in a
spiritual way and it is also connecting
their identified as well. Spirituality
comes in many scenes and Baywara and
Gutjuk walking away from the Cave is
also a spiritual act and move that they
are doing which is also a part of their
culture.
Voice and agency:
In this scene it is clear that Baywara and
Gutjuk has their own voice and agency
because they are connected to their
culture and land.
and how he is learning the to practice his culture
by putting the oak on his face. This also shows
how he Is slowly shaping his identity in relation to
his culture from such a young age and how that
related to him having strong connection to his
culture even in the mission because he had learnt
all that stuff from a young age.
What is the significance of the diegetic, ambient
sounds of nature in this scene? Consider Gutjuk’s
connection to the land in your response.
The diegetic sound is linking the scene of Gujuk
being in his countryside and practicing his culture
and the sounds just add up to how his countryside
sounds like. This is considered to be adding to the
theme of identity at the same time because it is
eventually about how one is practicing their
culture and how it sounds for them to do it in a
certain environment. The diegetic sound is
symbolising peace and connection to land.
What is the significance of the close-up of the
bush plums? How does this foreshadow future
events?
The Bush palms is a symbol that is scene twice in
the film and both are in different context, first
when Gutjuk is learning from his uncle and his
uncle is telling him the benefits of the bush palms
and second when Gutjuk and Travis are together
and they are in the high ground and Gutjuk brings
him the palms to try and they start talking about

4. would allow him to control everything
around him and act when necessary.
This is the first scene where we learn
that Gutjuk means ‘hawk’. What are
hawks known for and how does this
relate to Gutjuk’s character?
Hawk is a type of bird which is native to
Australia and Arnhem land in particular
the bird has a close link to how gutjuk
wants to take the high ground and have
everything in control. Similarly, hawk is
always watching everything and is in the
high ground. In some scenes in the film,
it is clearly seen that the bird is
following Gutjuk right before him and
Travis go to the high ground and also it
symbolises connection to the land
because the bird only spears when
Gutjuk is close to his country.
teaching.
This also connects to the idea of being in the high
ground or being inferior as well.
3.The settlers arrive
(0:07:31)
When the settlers arrive in the
countryside where the Yolngu
people live, there are 4 people
which includes Eddy, Jhone and
two other soldiers that are trying
to talk with the First nation
people and have a peaceful
expedition.
Travis who is the snipper and has
control over everything sees the
two soldiers separate from Eddy
Voice and agency:
In this scene, the white soldiers have the
choice to shoot or to have a peaceful
expedition, but because of their eucentaric
beliefs they chose to kill so many people of
First nation.
Quotes:
“no one shoots but him”
“Watch them Eddy”
Symbols:
A symbol that is used to difference between the
two racial group is the way they dress up. In the
massacre scene it is obvious that the soldiers are
dressed up in a western way and they have proper
cloths and set up on their horses whereas the First
nation people only have their traditional cloths
and weapons such as spears.
Food:
Food is seen very different, and it is shown in this

5. and Jhone and makes the
comment of “watch them eddy”.
It means that he already knows
they are not trustworthy and as
if he already knows that they
shouldn’t be trusted because
they would probably start
shooting.
When one solider sees Gujuk
and he screams and that is when
the massacre actually happens.
Family identity:
The massacre took away and separated one big
family which impacted Gutjuk’s identity later in
the film.
Power:
In this scene, the soldiers have more power
and control over the first nations people,
mostly because of their weapons and guns.
scene when Wak Wak the mother of Gutjuk had a
wallaby for food and it is captured with a close up
shot, and later on we have the western type of
food which is shown with a close up shot as well.
Structural choices:
This scene is captured to show the childhood of
Gutjuk and his family before they go weon and
mention the mission and so on.
Film techniques:
Most of the techniques used in this scene is the
non-diegetic sounds of people being killed
specifically the baby and also thunder music is on
the background given it more dimension.
4. The massacre Using fist person’s point of view
from the riffle sight.
Diegetic sound that birds are
crying during the massacre.
The blood on eddy’s customs
symbolising the fact that he was
the first who shot first.
Travis trusts Eddy to look after
the other polices officers, but
Eddy becomes the first one to
shoot Baywara.
The digenic sound of the baby
crying and the police
The massacre that happened in
the beginning of the film is just a
Identity:
This scene remarks the main point about
dividing and destroying one’s personal identity
of cultural identity because by taking away
their family, there is no one left to continue
that heritage and teach them about that
culture.
This is also important when we look at Gutjuk’s
identity and how his identity had shaped even
though he grew up in the mission. It is really
important to note that Gutjuk had a very
traumatising childhood, and trauma is
something that is never going to go away from
someone unless it is healed, so for Gutjuk
losing his family was a trauma that was healed
How does the director use the non-diegetic sound,
specifically singing, to portray this event?
The singing as the background noise when the
massacre seems more like to be a mourning and
not a traditional song. It is because the scene of
massacre itself is very heavy and traumatising so
by adding the mourning in the First nations’
language just helps to symbolise the connection
that exists between the members of the family.
This connection is seen when the grandfather
talks to the bird and gets notified about the
massacre. This shows a very strong sense of
connection to family and land.

6. series of all the massacres that
were happening at that time. It
was not something really now to
both sides as they were aware.
when he went back to join his grandfather
again in his own country.
Power:
The power lies with the soldiers in this scene
again.
5.The mission
(0:14:38)
This scene is all about showing the
gender roles that existed in Australian
society at that time even for the settlers
and also how the mission was set up in
the first place.
In this scene there is a close-up view of
pretty much the who structure of the
mission, giving the audience an
understanding of what the mission looks
like.
The first thing that catches one’s eyes
when looking at this scene is the way of
clothing of the first nation people who
live in the mission and how different it is
to those who lives in the countryside.
Another thing that is really important is
that we can notice Claire being able to
speak in Yolngu’s traditional language,
which means that the mission had been
set up for long enough that she learnt
that from the people in the mission.
The hawk is still flying up there when
Travis hands Gutjuk to Claire so that she
takes care of him.
Gender roles:
woman left to take care of the child and to
clean and do the domestic things whereas the
men would go out and work outside. When
Travis hands in Gujuk to Claire is simplifying the
gender roles that is expected from different
from others in the society.
Identity:
When Travis hands in Gujuk ti Claire that is the
crucial moment where he is obviously getting
him to be prepared to lose his own identity and
adopt a new way of living which is the white
way of living obviously.
Voice and agency:
When Gutjuk is brought into the mission he
had no choice in this unless he accepted it and
started leaving a life. He doesn’t even have a
say in practicing his own spiritual religion and
even his own name, which gets taken away.
By doing so, they are trying to assimilate a new
culture and identity into him which he partially
Film techniques:
They capture every part of the mission with a solid
angle and there is still the traditional song going
on in the background.
There is a close up shot of the First nation people
in the mission which more emphasizes on how
they are in the mission.
SFSV:
A close up capture of the church just before Travis
brings Gutjuk is symbolizing the new identity and
religion that Gutjuk must follow.

7. adopts.
6.The aftermath
(0:19:00)
Eddy is trying to cover the truth
and maintain control.
Travis wants to tell the truth.
They are talking about
McGuiness and massacres that
tell us that massacres are still
happening.
Jhone is acting more in human
way, but the others are not as
emotional due to their
experience in wars.
Loyalty:
Travis loyal to his moral believes and Eddy
loyal to the king or the laws. This continues all
the way throughout the film, and it is also seen
in multiple other scenes.
Prejudice:
There is a bit of prejudice involved with how
they look at First nations people and their
decision making is very biased.
The structural choices:
Filming the exact part of the mission with a drone
is seen as an start and end to the same setting.
This scene is important in the opening of the next
scenes which is 12 years later.
7.Twelve years later
(0:20:50)
The opening of the scene after twelve is
with crows flying away from the scene
and there is a close shot of the rock and
the naturals of the land.
The main scene after the 12 year is
when Travis is shooting the crocodile in
the head which links back to Gutjuk’s
totem and how Travis’s comeback
would mean a change of identity for him
as well.
“It’s the responsibility of those who make
history to record it.” What does Moran’s quote
here reveal about Australia's history?
It is talking about how the colonisers
had the power to record the history the
way they want to do.
Establishment of power through power.
It is mainly about the theme of power,
which in this scenario it sets with
Moran or the whites. The reason for
that is that Moran has the power to
capture the important moments which
will stay in the history and because the
first nation’s people do not have that
resource, the only available perspective
What is the significance of Travis hunting the
crocodile? How does this link to the power he has
in this moment?
Travis’s comeback to the mission and Hunting
down a crocodile in the first scene in 12 years can
symbolise the fact that it is another identity
change for Gutjuk because crocodile is his totem,
and it strongly links back to how he learns two
different cultures.
How does this photography scene demonstrate
Eurocentric power? Consider the camera lens shot
as well as Moran’s dialogue, ordering the two
Aboriginal men to “get down”.
When Moran is forcing the two Aboriginal man to

8. on this history would be the white
perspective.
get down, it foreshadows the fact that in history,
First nation people have never been highlighted
and the struggle of them overtime. This is because
of the Eurocentric belief that existed at that time.
This is basically meaning that Moran would
forcibly do this to show the superior and inferior
in race and by doing so, he would capture history
the way he wanted it.
8.“You’re here for a
reason”.
(0:22:24)
"The truth comes out." How does this
scene demonstrate Travis’ path to
redemption?
In the scene, Moran is trying to
convince Travis to come back to the
mission and continue working with
them, and when Travis rejects and
threatens to kill both of them he says
that he is essentially a criminal because
he killed two soldiers of their own in the
massacre and that he needs to do as
what he says.
The truth they are talking about is the
truth that that are trying to get rid Fist
nation and Travis stated that maybe if
he goes to say that he killed 2 soliders,
the other truth will come out in the
same time.
Power:
Although the power dynamics lies with the
settlers overall throughout the film, there is a
struggle between power in between those
authorities as well. In this case, Moran has
more power in decision making because he is
the senior officer, and he also has evidence
against Travis.
Loyalty:
In this situation, Travis seeme as if he wants to
still be loyal to his moral beliefs and not get
involved in any of this things but there is no
other options for him.
Comment on Johnson’s use of mise-en-scene here;
how does it reveal the vengeance being taken by
Baywarra?
In this scene, when the three officers are talking
about Baywara, they bring in a very wild
perspective into his personality and how
dangerous he can be for everyone because he can
turn into a voice and they did not want that to
happen.
Moran views him a “survivor of Travis’s mess”
which in the context is a very racist comment that
someone can make about someone based on their
characteristics.
9.Reunion Describe the reunion between Gutjuk Identity: How does this scene convey the unbreakable

9. (0:25:20) and Baywara.
Their reunion is during an attack of
Baywara on another station and Gutjuk
is helping the men calm down the fire
and he notices his uncles and goes to
follow him, and a member of his mob
finds him and that is when they actullat
met and the scene ends there.
This scene is a wakeup call for Gutjuk to follow
his own culture and family and do the thing
that right for his people even though it is
sacrificing many things to get to that.
Power dynamics:
The power dynamics in this scene lies with
Baywara because he is the main character who
is trying to take revenge on his family because
of what had happened to them.
bonds of family?
It is the time when Baywara and Gutjuk reunite
again after 12 years so it is a very significant
moment for both of them because it brings the
connection back to the members of the family and
the culture as well.
10. Back at the mission
(0:26:25)
the first scene we see after the reunite
of Baywara and Gutjuk is Gutjuk in the
church in the mission.
This touches on the concept of adopting
new ideas and perspectives in the past
12 years in the mission.
It is also important that Jhone is
mentioning a specific part of the bible
that touches on the occupying the land
of another.
Identity:
It is showing the other side of Gujuk’s identity
because he grew up in the mission and
adopted parts of their identity for instance the
religion and the way of dressing up.
SFCV:
The specific part of the bible:
“What is sorrow for you who buy up houses after
houses and fields after fields”. Using this specific
part is touching up on the fact that the land of
First nation people has been take away from the.
Food:
There is a close up shot of the food to show the
difference between the food that first nation
people eat and how it’s different in the mission,
which people have adopted it as well.
11. Gutjuk and Travis
talk about Baywara
(0:28:47)
In this scenario, Gutjuk is having a
conversation with Travis about what
happenes if he becomes the tracker to
find his uncle.
He also asks him if they would kill his
uncle and what would happen to him
and Travis tries to hide the truth and
Family identity:
It looks at how a member of a family is really
important to one and the things that a person
would do and sacrifice to actually achieve it.
Power:
The power lends more to be Gutjuk’s as they
SFCV:
The gun in this scene is very important because it
is symblosing power and it also related to what
they are talking about as they talk about whether
they would kill Baywara or not.

10. just say that he will try his best to keep
him safe and that It depends on Gutjuk.
get close to Gutjuk’s country and culture
because his country is where he is familiar
with,
12. Travis’s plan
(0:29:51)
Travis is concerned about what is going
to happen to Gutjuk and the fact that he
told Moran that he would use him as a
“belt” or tracker to find Baywara.
He knows that Eddy is involved in
bringing him back to the mission just
because he wants to work with him to
find Baywara but Travis decides to go
with Gutjuk rather than him, which
makes Eddy mad.
Identity:
Gutjuk’s identity is becoming much more
clearer because he has an understanding of
who to trust and who not to trust and him
being a tracker means betrayal to his own
culture and family.
Loyalty:
Travis is still stick to his moral beliefs rather
than following what Eddy and Moran wants
him to do.
Qoutes:
“why are you dropping me for this kid?”
“I would not make the same mistake twice.”
SFCV:
The camera angles are different in a way that
shows Moran and Eddy inside the cottage and
Travis facing outside and standing way more out,
wich this can be further interpreted into the
different prespective that exists in that room.
In this scene, Moran and Eddy are both wearing
their uniform and Travis is not which further
foreshadows how they act throughout the film
when they go out in the country to find Baywara.
13. Claire objects
(0:30:49)
In this scene, Moran is discussing how
they want to use Gutjuk as a tracker to
find Baywara but Claire does not want
him to involve in this types of stuff
because he already know what is going
to happen to him if he does it.
Quotes:
“tommy is not a tracker”
“isn’t not really your choice, is it?”
Voice and agency:
The choices and decisions are mostly made by
Moran because he the senior officer and in
charge of everything. for instance, Claire seems
to have no interest in the decisions they are
making Although she is the one who has taken
care of him and raised him.
SFCV:
The scene is being filmed at night which further
overshadows the idea of making dark decisions or
making a decision that is going to impact so many
people because there are so many people who are
involved in the action.

11. 14. “Go to Baywarra”.
(0:31:35)
The scene is about Gutjuk and a
member of the elder who are talking
about communication between Gujuk
and his uncle. Because he wants him to
notify that he is coming to track him
down with the police.
Loyalty:
This shows loyalty to family and oneself
bloodline because if they had found baywara
without telling him that he was being tracked
down, it would have showed betrayel which
Gutjuk did not do that.
SFCV:
Fire is a good symbol in this scene because it’s
showing how an action of anger is going to
happen when good truck is going to track
baywara.
There’s also a close-up shot of the fire and the
indigenous men accepting to pass the message to
15. Leaving the mission
(0:32:06)
When Travis and Tommy live the
mission angle to track by wire down and
they’re talking about Tommy’s name in
his own culture and Tommy refuses to
tell it to Travis because the trust is not
there yet. They talk about what is going
to happen to be worried once he’s
captu Tommy is constantly asking if he is
going to be safe.
identiy:
Identity is being shown in a way that when
Travis and Tommy are trucking down Bawara
and talking about his name and the Hawk is
following Tommy which essentially end up with
Tommy explaining his meaning of the meaning
of his name and his totem.
SFCV:
Camera angles used in this scene are really
important because it is related to Tommy’s totem
and the meaning of his name in the camera angle
are showing the walk on top of Thomas’s head is
also important because it’s linking the meaning of
his name to the hook that's flying above his head.
16. Gutjuk and Travis
set out
(0:33:59)
In this scene we have Tommy and Travis
moving out with the mission to track
down Bawara which they’re leaving the
mission to get closer to Tommy’s
country. This is firstly making
connections between Gutjuk and his
country and secondly it is where he
belongs, and he is most familiar with so
the power dynamics also change.
There is a bit of conversation going on
between Tommy and Travis at this point
and Travis is trying to get to know the
new term after 12 years by asking
simple information about him although
Johnson utilises the natural landscape to
convey Travis’ fear. What might this suggest
about colonialist beliefs? How does this
demonstrate that Travis is disconnected from
this land?
We have a a drone shot of Travis and Tommy
walking in a full on desert which is bringing in
the fear of Travis because he’s getting far away
from the mission and also getting closer to
Thomas’s country. This means that Tommy has
more control over what’s going on in the area
and also the directions because he is familiar
with everything in his own country world Travis
is not. By doing so Johnson tries to emphasise
Comment on the aerial shot of Travis and Gutjuk
riding through Arnhem Land. How does Johnson
celebrate the landscape here?
There is a lot of background noise birds to
cheering and natural and voices from natural
world going on in the background. This is
implemented to show the connection between
Kozak and his country and how Life and his
identity sort of glow up when he is in his country.
We also have close-up shots of different animals
that are in the Arland which are also about the
native animals of the place in its marking their
importance of those animals in our land and it’s a
great way to express the island itself.

12. he knows much more about him he’s
just interested to know about him in his
own culture.
the connection between one self and their land
and how disconnection relates to power
dynamics and how easily can change based on
the sitting of a where the individuals are.
At some point, Travis loses direction when they’re
in the country and this is where the fear begins
because he does not know anything about the
country while good has more power and more
knowledge of the land and he knows what he is
about to do.
The hawk acts as a motif in this scene. What does
it symbolise?
The walk in the scene acts as the one in the high
ground and controlling everything because when
Tommy mentions that the walk is always following
him to make sure that everything is okay it is also
linking back to the meaning of his name and how
he’s always in the high ground and controlling
everything. It also relates to the fact that when
Tommy is in his own country he has got more
control over everything else when Travis is in the
mission he’s got more control..
17. Walter arrives at
the Mission
(0:37:25)
How are Moran and Eddy characterised
here?
Moron and Eddie are both characterised
as extreme racist people towards first
nation people because of the racist
comments they’re making when Walter
arrives at the mission. For instance, a
dimension that he does not need a “half
cast” person helping him in finding out
Cultural identity:
The style also touches up on the cultural
identity of two different individuals from
different racial backgrounds because Walter is
from half white and half black background
while Eddie and moron are both white. More
over there extreme racist comments about
Walters identity is also a part of who he is
known for in the film.
SFCV:
The structural choices made in the scenario are
very specific in how Eddie and Moran Looks at this
scenario. Because their perspectives are based on
the laws that are made for the country while
Walter may have another perspective on how to
track Bawara and how to deal with him in a more
justice way.there’s also a very different
perspective on what justice means between the

13. where they were is which is an extreme
braces to even use for the first nation
people. Moron on the other hand is
more on the beneficial side of this scene
because he is only thinking about how
Walter has more knowledge of the
length, and he can be a good tracker for
Eddie. Moron is using his own
knowledge to convince both to work
together and find Travis and Gutjuk to
find Baywara.
What does the dialogue in this scene
suggest about their values?
This dialogue touches up on the
eccentric view and belief of both moron
and Eddie in this case and it’s also
touching up on the racism and prejudice
that existed towards first nation people
at that point.
Power:
The power again lies in the hands of Moran
here because he is the senior officer and he
makes the decisions. Although Eddie does not
want to work with Walter, but he has to work
with Walter due to the decisions made by
Moran in this clarifies that Eddie does not have
a say in what Moran decides..
two groups although Walter is half cast but he still
has that first nation blood in him.
18. “My name is
Gutjuk”.
(0:38:40)
“Gutjuk. Means hawk. My name is
Gutjuk.” How does Gutjuk begin to trust
Travis in this scene?
He begins to trust Travis when he
mentions that his name is Tommy, but
Travis does not seem to believe him,
and he is making fun of the scenario in a
way that he feels like he can trust Travis
and also the conversation that they had
beforehand is also related to this.
Tommy also needed to trust Travis in
Power:
The more bit closer to the country the more
the part dynamics change between Travis and
Tommy and Travis becomes more fearful and
less aware of what’s going on around him and
Tommy becomes more aware of what’s going
on because he is familiar with his country.
Connection to the land:
Connection to the land is an important concept
that has been covered by this scene. There are
SFCV:
Camera angles are really important in the scene
because it is reflecting on how the land is been
seen. Most of the camera angles are either by
drone or close-up shots of the animals and
characters which gives more detail and in-depth
analysis of what they look like.
The natural landscape that is also a part of the
scene reflect on how people of Yolngu are
connected to their land and how well they’re
taking care of the land.

14. this case to gain his trust so that they
are working together and finding
Baywara Richmond that he can go back
to his country where his family is.
so many short videos of the land itself in the
nature on its own because the land is very
important and the things that connects the
land to the people in the land are important as
well because we see animals, and different
trees and the ground as well that also relates
to the totems and meanings of Yolngu people.
19. High ground
(0:39:46)
In the scenario, Tommy and Travis are in
the high ground where Travis decides to
teach Tommy how to shoot. Teaching
an indigenous person how to shoot is a
really important decision that a white
men would’ve made in that context and
scenario which proves it because of his
moral beliefs.
In the scene, Travis is acting like a
teacher to Tommy, which again relates
to the childhood teaching of Tommy by
his uncle. This is a similarity that is seen
in the scene between Baywara teaching
Gutjuk and Travis teaching Tommy
which are in the in two different
cultures and two different identities and
the weapons they use is also different
because the weapon that Baywara were
teaching Gutjuk with is Spears, which is
the traditional weapons of Yolngu
people and their weapon that Travis is
teaching Tommy is a gun which is the
Western weapon used. This reflects on
Quotes:
“When you’re in the high ground, you control
everything”
“Baywara Used to be my teacher.”
“He could’ve been a better man if he had the
choice to.”
Identity:
This team is touching up on the clashes of two
identities for Tommy because he adopted the
western culture and identity when he was
brought up in the mission and he his own
culture which of course is the indigenous
culture is also a part of his personality so in this
scene there is a conflict between the two
identities that does not match each other.
“When you’ve got the high ground, you control
everything.” How is this a metaphor for the film?
This is a metaphor for a walk, which is the
meaning of Gutjuk’s name. It means that hawk is
always in the high ground and he has everything in
control which basically refers to.Gutjuk and when
Travis teaches told me how to be controlling in
the high ground, this is already his mean without
him teaching.
Travis hands Gutjuk his gun. What does this
symbolise?
This symbolises passing down the culture and the
ways of culture, which is the western ways of
knowing how to shoot to Tommy. It means that
Tommy has now adopted a new way of western
culture in his personality that is in him and it’s a
part of who he is.

15. the two different identities that is
shaping Tommy’s personality one is his
own identity. His indigenous identity in
the other is the identity that he adopted
while he was in the mission.
20.Eddy and Walter in
pursuit
(0:42:35)
When Walter and Eddie are talking
about Travis, they’re talking about their
fears and how they’re afraid of his
shooting skills. On top of this Eddie
makes racist comments for Walter again
because he thinks that he should be
more mature and stronger because he’s
been brought up in Queensland. He
should be tougher to this, and he should
not be afraid of Travis at this point.
Beliefs:
It is beliefs on how Walter should be acting and
should be stronger as his personal beliefs
based on his experience in the past which
clashes with Walter’s identity and also the
context.
SFCV:
Close-up shots of Eddie have been filmed in this
scene because they are looking for Travis and
Tommy at this point so close of trust makes it
clear and understandable that they are searching
for people.
21. Gutjuk and Travis
share a meal
(0:43:03)
What kind of a man is Travis? How has
the war affected him?
When Tommy and Travis or talking
they’re talking about how Travis is used
to the food from the war because he’s
eating a type of food that he used to eat
when he was in the war and Tommy
makes the comment that the war is over
so he shouldn’t be acting as if he’s in the
war which again for shadows the
conflict between the two cultures. The
war also has affected him in a way that
he is less sensitive when it comes to
things like seeing a massacre and stuff
Qoutes:
“My Uncle Baywara, he was my teacher. I think
if he had a chance, he’ll be a different kind of
man.”
“I’m not sure anyone gets to choose what kind
of man they’re gonna be.”
What does this dialogue suggest about the
importance of choices?
The dialogue emphasis on the concept of
choices and who gets to choose in their
life.when Tommy is talking about how much of
a better person his uncle could’ve been if he
had the choice to be one does the comment
What is the significance of Gutjuk giving Travis the
bush berries?
The bearers are assemble of teaching in this film
because we see Tommy’s uncle also giving him
bush berries and talking about how healthy it is
for them and later on in the film when Travis and
Tommy are talking about it it is almost the same
thing. It’s more like a reputation of the same
scenario with two different people which links
back to them teaching Tommy as well.

16. because they have been in a war in this
sounds normal to them. n
that no one has the choice. this also relates
back to the fact that no one actually has the
choice even Travis because if he had the choice
he would’ve act according to his more beliefs
and not according to the law.
22.The confrontation
(0:45:05)
Comment on the relationship between
Eddy and Walter.
Eddie does not want to work with
Walter and although they don’t have a
good relationship with each other, they
get along when it comes to trucking and
spotting the targets.
How does Walter’s experience differ
from Eddy’s?
Water comes from a indigenous
background and he has an
understanding of how it feels to be an
indigenous person at the time so his
experience would be really different to
it because it is beliefs or eccentric and
he only believes in laws and he does not
follow any decision by his moral beliefs.
What choices has Walter had to make in
order to survive colonialism?
Walter has chosen to work with the
officers that are working to capture
indigenous people were not obeying the
Identity:
Identity is a big concept when it comes to the
scenario because it is comparing to identities of
two different individuals with different
backgrounds.it is comparing a half cast
individual with the person of a European
background which is totally two different
experiences into different belief systems.
Really makes it hard for them to work together
is the different perception on how things are
meant to be done and how to deal with a
conflict.
Connection to the country:
Although Walter does not have any connection
to the land itself, but he has a lot of knowledge
about how things work in the countryside so
when Travis and Tommy are aiming for them,
he quickly notices, and he uses techniques to
find them.
The scene cuts to Eddy eating the same food as
Travis. What is Johnson suggesting here about the
different paths we take in response to our
personal experiences?
Personal experiences are different in different
characters in the film although the food for Eddie
and Travis is the same but the decisions they
make in that exact scenario are completely
different. Eddie and Travis both come from the
same war and they have been friends throughout
but the decisions they make is based on their
beliefs and their experience does not have
anything to do with their decision-making based
on what they believe.
Personal experiences may also include
experiences with first nation people and having a
connection with them which Eddie did not have at
this point and he chose to obey the law instead of
listening to his moral beliefs.

17. law which this choice of him has bought
a lot of hatred from the indigenous
people in the community as they think
he is an evil person, and he kills his own.
“Nothing gets the job done like sound
military planning.” How is this quote
ironic?
It is ironic because it is mentioning that
Eddie himself, he got a lot more
experience than Walter that because all
Walter have is his background in his
knowledge about the land and nothing
else like a professional training in the
war. So it is really important to note
that different backgrounds bring in
different perspectives on how things are
meant to be done.
23. Baywarra appears;
Travis is taken
prisoner
(0:49:20)
This scene is right after Travis decides to
work with Tommy and Tommy has other
plans with his uncle which they capture
and then they take him to the prison
which is in his grandfather’s land. At this
point, Travis realises that this has all
been planned beforehand because
Tommy’s uncle and his mob is really
prepared for the situation.
Tommy also makes a comment about
how he thinks that Travis should not be
Identity:
The reunion of Tommy and his family is a great
moment where he realises his true culture and
his true identity and how he has to practice his
own culture.
Connection to the land:
His knowledge about his land is crucial because
although he was taking away in a young age, he
still knew a lot about the land in this is showing
the strong connection between him and the
SFCV:
Change of way of clothing is really important in
the scenario because by the time Gutjuk gets to
his own country he changes into the traditional
way of clothing that the rest of the Yolngu people
have.

18. killed because he thinks he’s a good
man and his uncle response that if he
wanted to kill him, he would’ve done it
a long time ago.
land.
24. Tension between
Eddy and Walter
(0:50:17)
80 and Walter gets into a conflict about
who is going to do the shooting in the
war and he mentioned that Travis is on
professional shoulder and Eddie
mentioned that he would Walter if he
needed to do so which is threatening
him in a way that makes him fearful of
him.
He mentions that he’s waiting for more
men to come so that they can go back
and search for Travis and baywara.
Power:
Para dynamic shift in this scene as Eddie has
more power than Walter because he’s the one
making decisions as Moran is not there.
SFCV:
Close shot of the gun inclusive shots of the faces
of Eddie and Walter is so important because the
closer shot of the gun is symbolising the anger
that it has and the close-up of their faces
emphasising how they are angry and they have
fear within themselves.
25. Gutjuk and
Baywarra
(0:51:52)
I just started the scene. We have
another jungle burning and we are
symbolising fire which stands for anger
at the same time. It is emphasis on
another conflict starting which again
follows up with another massacre in
gutjuk’s grandfather’s country.
We also have a hawk flying right after
the scene of fire which also extends on
how Gutjuk has control over everything
right now.
Family identity:
The connection of identity between the family
members is really crucial because in this scene
we see the connection between Baywara and
Gutjuk although they haven’t seen each other
in 12 years.
SFCV:
Baywara And his mob walking to a jungle that’s
already been burned as symbolising them passing
a conflict and reaching to a resolution which is
basically capturing Travis as the white men to take
to his grandfather’s country.
26. “Is that your
grandson?”
(0:53:25)
When Baywara and Gutjuk Arrive At his
grandfather’s country, someone of their
family mentions if he is his grandson.
This is a crucial moment of the whole
Family connection It’s also seen within the
scenario because the whole family who has
been separated for 12 years are coming
together again.
SFCV:
The way of clothing of these people are and how
this is so different to people in the mission
although they’re both first nation people is a an

19. family coming together. important point.
27. The negotiation
(0:53:53)
After Travis is in the prison, there’s any
negotiation between him and Baywara
and the Grandfather About how they’re
going to apply justice and why did they
want to capture Baywara. The
grandfather asks Travis if he can meet
up with his senior officer and he says
yes.
Power:
The power dynamics are in the first nation
people’s hands because Travis is the only white
man in their country so they have full control
and full power to do whatever they want.
SFCV:
Gutjuk’s Interpretation of the conversation for His
grandfather and Travis shows the two different
identities that he has within him firstly that he
knows how to speak English and also his own
language which helps the negotiate a lot
smoother.
28. Pretending to be a
man
(0:57:42)
When they finish negotiation with Travis
Guluwirri Tells Gutjuk That he is A
mission boy and he should not be
pretending like a man because if he
takes his grandfather and his uncle to
the mission that would be killed.
This touches up more on the concept of
experience and knowing what to do
because they still do not trust him as he
is engaged with the western culture.
Identity:
They seen emphasis on the conflict between
the two identities that Gutjuk Have and
because he’s been raised in the mission no one
trusts him. He is seen as someone who
adopted the white culture and it’s not trusted
by the members of the mob.
Quotes:
“you don’t know w what you’re doing, your
weak”
SFCV:
The camera angles are only focused on this to
individuals who are talking about an important
concept in the scene and the camera is not going
elsewhere or taking any videos or clips of another
scene. This is due to the importance of what they
are disgusting.
29. Gulwirri dissents
(0:58:08)
She seems to be mad on the negotiation
that is about to happen. She calls them
coward for negotiating and not fighting
against the white people because she
thinks fighting against him is the only
option they have. She separates herself
from the mob because she does not
fear to fight.
Identity:
It touches up on how hair experience in the
past have developed her identity and
perspective on how to achieve justice and
negotiation because she does not think
negotiation is an option always solution for this
conflict.
SFCV:
Camera angles are really important as a camera
angle has been used to capture Guluwirrir When
she is seeing all the things she said this is showing
how powerful she looks when saying that and how
power sits and her decisions.

20. Qoutes:
“Cowards who talk when they should fight”
30. Landscape
(0:58:46)
In this scene, we have shots of the
landscape and animals such as the
crocodile the Hulk and the symbolises
the meaning behind Gutjuk’s name and
how he leads the mob into the mission
to negotiate. The walk is symbolising
how he’s got everything in control and
the crocodile is symbolising how he is
waiting for the target and he's analysing
everything.
Identity:
This scene is more about Gujuk’s Identity and
the meaning of his and his name as well which
again relates to the scenario were there on
their way to go and negotiate about justice.
Comment on how this scene foreshadows the
Makarrata. Pay particular attention to the non-
diegetic sounds of singing and the symbolism of
the crocodile.
Makarrata is a process in their culture which
they’re deciding on their own justice and their
elders are deciding when somebody is not
opening so this is something important that’s a
part of their culture. The scene which shows the
crocodile and the hawk relates directly to this
process and how it’s been analysed by the two
sides it is about balancing the powers and giving
the right to the indigenous people decide about
their own justice.
31. Arrival at the
Mission
(0:59:34)
Gujuke and the Mob has now arrived at
the mission and beforehand Eddie and
Moran has a conversation about how
they need more men and another
character is added in the scene which
he is really new and he does not know
anything about the mission. People who
are in the mission what comes them as
if it’s their families and the only purpose
of them being in the machine is to
negotiate.
Cultural identity:
Then negotiation about justice and injustice is
all about how they see it and their perspective
from an indigenous way. Which does not get
respected by moron as he is really biased and
has pretty prejudice towards this group of
people.
SFCV:
A difference between clothing of the two groups
that are going to negotiate is really different to
notice because the indigenous side is wearing
their traditional clothes and the white officers are
also wearing their uniform, which is basically the
one with the badge and everything. As simple as
the difference between the two cultures and how
there apart from each other.
32. “Looking directly at
the camera”
(1:00:42)
In this case again, Moron is capturing
another historical moment with the two
sides of indigenous people on one side
Power:
The concept of power is really crucial to not in
the scene because whoever has more power is
SFCV:
Camera angles more focus on what is being
captured at the moment and also the different

21. and the white people on the other side
he is capturing it as something that
happened in the history but the issue
with that is he is capturing his historical
events with his own desire and how he
wants to be seen.
the one who who can capture the moment in
the historical event that is happening and in
this case, it is the whites they are able to do
that so they have more power on sharing the
event even afterwards.
Power dynamics between the two different
cultures are also important to note.
dimensions like the people in the mission the
officers and also people who are involved in the
negotiation process.
33. Makarrata
(1:01:18)
Makaratta is the concept of getting
together to Discuss what justice and
injustice means. This is a traditional way
of dealing with those who do not obey
crime in indigenous cultures. Makarrata
was not respected by the senior officer
because he only obeys the laws that are
made by the king and British and that is
the reason he did not make any effort to
listen to the negotiation.
Makarrata is restoring balance.
Qoutes:
“ I did not come here to negotiate.”
“ in this country”
“ my country”
“You want us to respect your law, then give us
our justice.” How can this quote also be related
to contemporary Australia?
This relates in a way that talks about how the
colonisers of Australia were taking away the l
lands, the culture and heritage of indigenous
people and replacing it with their own and
there was no justice so in a land where
indigenous people owned it the colonisers
came in and made their own laws based on the
law in British. So when it comes to fairness and
justice, they should look at the traditions of the
first nation people and decide.
“This is my law. It comes from the soil. From
Mother Earth. You have come from across the
sea.” What is Gutjuk’s grandfather suggesting
here about Eurocentric ideals?
This is touching up on the concept of owning
the land in Australia because it is saying that
we are the ones who owned lunch we are the
ones who were here before you come from
across the sea means from British and it’s
How does Johnson’s use of costuming convey
power in this scene?
When Moran Is talking about the badge on his hat
and how it represents the kingdom in British and
that is the way that Johnson’s use of costume and
convey power because by doing so he emphasises
that Moran has more power in the negotiation
process because he is talking about the laws that
are already made.
Comment on the close-up shots of Gutjuk’s
grandfather and Moran. What is Johnson’s
purpose here?
The close-up shot on Gutjuk’s grandfather is
aiming to show anger towards Moran and and the
close of shot on moron’s face is showing the fear
from the grandfather. These are interactions and
symbols that comes with the camera angles that
emphasises different concepts with different
individuals.
When Moran talks about the crown on his hat,
there are mid-range shots of other First Nations
characters—what do their facial expressions

22. basically the concept of the owners of the land
and the colonisers.
“We all have to look after our own.” How does
vengeance create more division in society?
This is talking about looking after each other in
a sense of indigenous people having each other
to support each other and to engage with the
process of justice together. When the
negotiation finishes, they get notice that
Baywara has attacked another station and that
is the reason that negotiation stops so the
indigenous people are worried that another
conflict is going to start so they mention that
they have to look after each other.
suggest?
When he’s specifically talking about the badge on
the hat the camera on Travis is suggesting that he
is looking very disappointed and most of the
cameras are in there on the indigenous members
of the mob which they look very confused about
what moron is talking about. This is because it’s
not a lot that they were used to know before and
it’s a new load that has been implemented and it
is hard for them to obey a lot that is made by
settlers and colonisers and not their own.
34.“I’m not gonna
make it easy for
them”.
(1:08:44)
Travis already knows about the plan
that has been made by the senior officer
on getting rid of these people and
Baywara especially because it is
something that is gonna happen early or
further that time. And when he is talking
to Claire, he mentions that he would not
make it easy for them to do such a
thing. This also relates to his moral
beliefs and how he acts in a way that is
according to his morals.
Identity:
Claire and Travis seem to have a deeper
connection with Gutjuk and First nation people
in particular because they are the ones with
beliefs based on their moral values and not just
Eurocentric views. We can see Travis’s identity
shifting to be closer to the first nation people
then it is to his own background.
Quotes:
“you know what they are going to do, and
you’re just going to let it happen”
“I’m not going to make it easy for them”
SFCV:
The gun and the camera angles are really specific
in the scene as it focuses more on Travis and
Claire and has a short clip of moron and Eddie
when they’re leaving to going inside the cottage.

23. 35. Gutjuk aids Gulwirri
(1:10:36)
After Gujuk founds and saves Gulwirri
They went up to a high ground to
discuss some of the stuff that has been
going on. While offering her a bottle of
water, she mentioned that she does not
want their water meaning the white
people water shows her perspective on
him and where he grew up.
Identity:
Shifts the same aspects of identity that are
common between them.
SFCV:
The thing is very important as it’s a high ground
the camera angles and close shots on the
individuals are really crucial to notice. Because
they’re showing their injuries of Gulwirri tha that
has been caused by white men.
36. “You think like a
white man”.
(1:12:08)
How does this exchange reflect the
complex nature of Gutjuk’s identity?
Because he’s grown up in a mission and
he has parts of the western identity and
that aspects in his identity so it’s sort of
mixed up between the two it’s really
hard for the indigenous people to trust
him and to also be able to engage with
him.
Engaging with him can be in many ways
any interaction that has to do
something with the country and with
the people needs to be trustworthy.
Identity:
The conflict between the two identities that
have been mixed up because gutjuk’s
Childhood is based on his indigenous identity
where he shaped his indigenous identity and
when he moved to mention he adapted some
of the aspects of western culture and that has
become a part of his identity as well.
37. “These were good
men”.
(1:13:35)
What is ironic about Moran’s dialogue
here? What might this reflect about his
perspective more generally?
It looks at the eccentric view of white
men always being on top and no matter
how many mistakes they’re gonna do
they’re always superior and they’re
right. It also has to do with the
importance of those men for him
Violence:
Although the men that are in this dialogue
have been involved in sexual assault and
extreme violence, but they are still praised
after they died by those who are still alive like
the white men who still alive they still praise
them for what they did
SFCV:
The camera angles seem to be far away and there
are no close-up shots of the death or the injury
that has been closed because it is not important
to record those parts of it as it is important to
record the massacre that happens for indigenous
people.

24. because they were supposed to be a
supportive group that needed to help
them capture baywara.
38. Gutjuk and Gulwirri
return
(1:14:07)
After Gutjuk Has convinced Gulwirri
That he knows what he’s doing they
come back to where the first massacre
happened and in the exact same spot
there’s Travis who is controlling
everything.
Power:
Powers again on tense of Travis because he’s
the one who is on the high ground controlling
everything and he’s a sniper and he can shoot
so this clarifies that his power is more.it is also
about the different weapons that the two
groups use because Travis has a gun and the
first nation pupils they only have basic Spears.
SFCV:
There is a camera on Google from Travis point of
view and it is showing how he’s got everything
under control because he’s on the high ground.
There is another camera angle from his guns and
it is showing how he clearly sees everything that is
happening.
39. “How many are
coming?”
(1:15:00)
At this point Baywara Is asking Gutjuk
How many people are soldiers or after
him and he responded with four and he
goes into in detail about how he knows
that the people who killed his family
that day in the first massacre were
soldiers as well. This brings this idea in
Gutjuk’s head when he believes that
Travis was also involved in the first
massacre when his family died.
Identity:
This is the scene where Gutjuk Is slowly letting
go of the aspects of his identity that came from
the mission and came from the western
culture. Because now he believes that Travis
was the one who killed his family, and he was
the one who was involved in the massacre as
well.
SFCV:
There is background noise of birds flying away
because of the sound of the gunshots and it is a
trigger warning for massacre to happen the same
way it happened in the first place.
40. The second
massacre
(1:16:40)
Why does Gutjuk shoot Travis?
He chooses Travis because he thinks
that he was involved in the first
massacre where his family died as his
uncle told him before he died that
people who killed his family in the first
massacre were soldiers.
What emotion leads him to make this
Choices:
Many choices have been made by different
characters in this In the scene because the
characters made both poor and positive
decisions which lead to so many other
consequences. For example, Travis made a
choice to shot Baywara in order to protect
gutjuk but he ended up making him his enemy
and the person who hated him. Another poor
How is this high-angle shot similar to the opening
massacre scene? What is the irony here?
The difference between this high ground and the
high ground in the massacre was that in the first
massacre the shooting happened from the lower
ground and this time Travis started shooting so
there’s a bit of a difference between the two
massacre here.
Initially, the reason that Travis shot Baywara in

25. choice?
His sense of fear and anger leads to him
shooting Travis at the end and when
he’s angry, he cannot make the right
decision, and he did not end up making
the right decision anyway by shooting
Travis.
Who has the high ground in this frame?
Travis had the high ground in this frame
because he was the one controlling
everything and he was the one who
shot Baywara.
Why does Eddy choose to remind Travis
about his choices?
Eddie chose to remind Travis about his
choice because in the first massacre,
Travis took Gutjuk out of the creek
when he was a little child and the same
boy from 12 years ago was shooting him
which injured him.
decision was made by gutjuk when he shot
Travis because he thought he was the one
involved in the massacre without having any
evidence in this shows how his anger
overlapped his moral beliefs.
the first place was because he thought he’s going
to kill gutjuk.
41. Travis imprisoned
(1:18:47)
Does Travis see himself as a “bad man”
like Moran? Can a person ever “change
who they are?”
Travis does not see him as a bad person
for doing the the right thing. What he
did in the massacre and throughout the
Why does Moran feel he needs to document
everything on camera? What does this suggest
about the white men in power at this time?
It is because it’s much easier to capture the
history and it’s a way that they would capture
the history in a way that they like in desire.
SFCV:
Camera angle and quotes are really important, as
Moran captures a photo of Travis as well to Keep
it as a historical event.

26. film was right and it was according to his
moral beliefs when morons decision
was based on a eccentric ideas and
views.
“You know how civilisations are built, son? Bad
men doing bad things.” What is the irony of
Moran’s quote here?
The irony of his quote is talking about the
massacre and the expedition that needs to be
done in order for them to be able to settle in
the country.
42. Gutjuk and Darrpa
discuss anger
(1:20:26)
Why is Gutjuk sharpening the stone that
his uncle used as a spear?
Because he is now stepping into the
position of his uncle in the film, it is
important for him to settle and chose
which path does he choose to follow, he
can wither choose anger and follow his
uncle’s path and seek revenge or he can
choose to be critical about the situation.
What does Gutjuk’s grandfather suggest about
the dangers of holding onto anger?
He mentions that because Baywara was so
dedicated into taking revenge and his anger
overlapped his critical thinking and that led to
him being killed. He suggests Gutjuk to think
carefully before actually following his uncle’s
path.
What does Gutjuk’s grandfather mean when he
says Mother Earth tells him to walk softly?
It is about the concept of connection to the
land and how they get guided by the land to
take actions. When he mentions that he needs
to walk softly and not with anger because the
land would give back what It has received.
What does Gutjuk’s grandfather mean when he
says, “This stone is the spearhead. It is the rule
of law. It cannot be undone”?
Why does Johnson use flashback scenes?
It is to show the perspective of that present
moment to how it had been in the past when
Bawyara was teaching Gutjuk about the culture.
Now that he I dead, the flashback is used to show
Baywara’s peaceful past and how it turned to a
bad present because his anger led to his death.

27. He means that the stone is once used it will
cause many challenges and troubles as it
causes killings and injury and death.
43. Gutjuk and Gulwirri
discuss anger
(1:22:48)
What does Gulwirri reveal about her
past?
She mentions that she used to work in
the station, and there she did all the
cleaning and cookig and stuff. She says
that her boss thought that he owned
her, and he would beat Gulwirri up
because of that. And when she told her
family about what is been happening,
the station man killed all her family.
“You have to stay angry.” What is Johnson
revealing here about finding the balance
between standing up for what’s right and
finding peace?
Gulwirri wants to take revenge on those who
put her life in that situation and killed her
family so by doing so, she could take some of
the anger out of her. Because she thinks that
anger is the only way to go about this whole
situation.
How does Johnson build the tension between
Gutjuk and Gulwirri?
The tension is there because there are two
perspectives that both have, Gutjuk wants to
maintain peace and balance while Gulwirri wants
revenge and wants to let the anger out by
attacking more stations. It is also related to her
experienced in the past in her childhood as well
that she is now holding into this perspective.
How does the fire act as a metaphor for Gutjuk
and Gulwirri’s anger?
Fire symbolises anger in this scene and while
Gulwirri and Gutjuk are having conversation about
peace or anger.
44. The spearhead
(1:24:36)
In this scene, Gutjuk and Gulwirri has
left the countryside, but they have left
the spearhead aside which this
emphasises on how Gutjuk had decided
to not follow the path of his uncle.
Identity:
Gutjuk’s identity is shifting to lose its western
aspects of it as he gets closer to his own
country.
SFVC:
The close-up shots of the grandfather and shots of
the natural surroundings.
The close up shot of the grandfather to show the
realisation in his face.
45. “Can’t share a
country, Claire”.
(1:25:05)
This scene is touching up on the settler’s
pint of view about the land and how it is
very Eurocentric. In this scene Eddy and
other soldiers are about to go out to
look for Gutjuk and he mentions to
Claire that this is necessary to be done
Connection to the country:
The connection to the land is a concept that is
felt within the Yolngu people and the loss of
connection is within the white soldiers because
they are not connected to the land individually.
SFCV:
The camera angles are focused more on Eddy and
the expression on Clair’s face is seen through
another camera angle.

28. because a country cannot be shared
between two groups.
46. Gutjuk scouts and
raid the supplies
(1:26:41)
In this scene, Gutjuk is trying to destroy
the white soldier’s resources so that
they are not able to attack them at any
point and they also make them leave
just like the scene where he makes
Walter and Eddy leave, by keeping an
eye on them.
Identity:
The scene is emphasising the fact that Gutjuk is
replacing the western aspects of his identity by
either replacing them or going against them.
SFCV:
The camera angles are on the gun that is used by
Gutjuk and this shows his skills and how he uses
his knowledge.
47. The mission burns;
Gutjuk confronts
Travis and Moran
(1:29:10)
“I am the second most senior officer.”
How does Gutjuk’s high ground reduce
Moran’s power?
When they are in a situation where
Gutjuk has more power because he is
holding the gun on Moran, and he stops
Moran from saying his position because
he simply just does not care at that
point.
Does Travis redeem himself by shooting
Moran?
No, his moral values are supporting his
decision and he knows he is doing the
right thing and what actually need to be
done.
Why does Claire shoot Eddy?
This could relate back to the
conversation that she had with Eddy
and also the fact that she is awarte of
Power:
Power dynamics are now in the hands of
Gutjuk because he is the one controlling
everything. This is when he has control over
the senior officer and those who used to
control him and his actions.
How are the birdcalls symbolic?
because it is symbolising a loud and tragic thing
happening which is shooting the soldiers. At the
end when the birdcalls are more calm it suggests
that Gutjuk is now in peace.

29. his personality and what type of man he
is.
48. Travis’s death/”You
have to go”.
(1:33:35)
Why is it important that Travis calls
Gutjuk by his birth name?
It is important because Gutjuk trusted
him and h=told him his real name and it
also related to the emotional bond
between the two. Because even when
Travis is dying he is smiling as if he has
gotten what he wanted to achieve.
Identity;
This scene is important is it is marking the
change in Gutjuk’s identity.
What is the significance of the close-up shot of
Gutjuk and Travis’ hands?
The connection between the two characters and
how they became close throughout the film.
Comment on the non-diegetic sound as Gulwirri
appears with the horse. Why is this significant?
it is an Indigenous song which sounds very sad to
match the ending of the film and also touch on
the reconnection of Gutjuk to his own cultural
identity.
Comment on Johnson’s use of mise-en-scene here.
How does this scene fit the archetype of a
traditional Western?
He uses the natural views of the island to end the
film, the exact way it started.
49. Final shots
(1:35:27)
There are a couple of shots from the
Arnhem land it self and the Nimbuwa
rock which was shown in the beginning
of the film as well.
Connection to country:
Gutjuk finding his true slef and identity and
showing the connection to the film.
What does the hawk flying into the mist
symbolise?
It symbolises that Gutjuk has now has the high
ground and control on his country.