Australian film suprise winner at Cannes
Updated
A low budget Australian film 'Samson and Delilah' has taken out a prestigious prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Its 38 year old Aboriginal director, writer and cinematographer won the Camera d'Or for what is his first feature film.
Presenter:Lisa Millar
Speaker: Warwick Thornton, director of Samson and Delilah
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LISA MILLAR: 'Samson and Delilah' might be a love story, but it's a dark film about two teenagers growing up in a troubled Indigenous community.
There's barely any dialogue but its impact has been extraordinary.
And now its director Warwick Thornton has been rocketed onto the international stage with his win overnight at the Cannes film festival.
WARWICK THORNTON: You know you get one chance in your life to win this award. It's an award that is, you know, is, you know, for best first film by a first-time director for the world, and we won.
And it's just sort of like, you know, as far as, not a stepping stone, but as far as, you know, sort of storytelling in your life, it's kind of the best bloody start.
LISA MILLAR: It was a nervous wait for the film's producer Kath Shelper.
KATH SHELPER: Because it was all in French, and we didn't, we were sitting there and we didn't really understand anything that was going on.
And someone told us that Isabelle Adjani was presenting the Camera D'or, so when we saw her come out, we thought, 'Oh, this is the moment'.
And then finally, we heard, you know, Samson et Delilah and Warwick's name, and we were like 'Oh my god! We won'.
LISA MILLAR: Margaret Pomeranz isn't surprised. She and David Stratton gave it five stars on the ABC's 'At the Movies' - the first Australian movie to get that kind of praise from them.
MARGARET POMERANZ: I think I screamed out loud (laughs). I am so excited for him. I'm overcome, actually.
LISA MILLAR: What was it about this film that so hit home with both the two of you - I mean, you both gave it five stars?
MARGARET POMERANZ: Look, I think that there is a searing truth in it. And I think that that's what you want from filmmakers.
It's beautiful, it's beautifully shot, it's tough - it's such a tough film. But it ultimately offers such an emotional punch. It's unbelievable.
LISA MILLAR: The Cannes jury was just as impressed.
KATH SHELPER: They kept on thinking about it, and there were many images in the film that they had stuck in their heads, and just kept resonating for a long time afterwards.
And that it was, you know, one of the most poignant love stories that they had seen in a very long time.
LISA MILLAR: Warwick Thornton lives in Alice Springs and filmed the movie around the areas in which he grew up.
The 38-year-old is a graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
He may be destined for even greatest things, but he's convinced there are others out there with just as much talent.
WARWICK THORNTON: I watched the new series of Screen Australia's short films by Indigenous filmmakers, and they completely blew me away.
And I think the world's cinema's going to have to watch out, because there's some incredible directors and storytellers coming - you know, about to come up.
LISA MILLAR: Warwick Thornton was thrilled his film was even nominated; winning was beyond his wildest dreams.
Margaret Pomeranz doubts any of it will change his approach.
MARGARET POMERANZ: Look, it will certainly bring Warwick a lot of international attention. But I think that what he wants to do is go back and tell his own stories.
He wants to go back to Alice Springs and tell his own story. I don't think he's going to be easily seduced.
LISA MILLAR: And in fact Warwick Thornton is already yearning for home. A week on the red carpet has been enough for someone who's more at ease in Central Australia.
WARWICK THORNTON: The people I've met are incredibly beautiful and incredibly positive, and it's just an amazingly special place that is just like the absolute essence of cinema and storytelling.
But you know, sort of, after a week of this place, you like, you get quite tired, and you just go, 'Um, I think I'm ready to go home'.
