The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)

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The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) – F. Schepisi

No time like the present (and in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement) to watch this key film of the Australian New Wave.  Although it was directed by a white Australian (Fred Schepisi) from a book by another white Australian (Thomas Keneally), the film examines the impact of racism on Aboriginal/Indigenous Australians (First Peoples), albeit at the time of Federation (turn of the 20^th century), a “comfortable” distance away (or not!).  Jimmie Blacksmith, a so-called half-caste boy raised in a Christian missionary settlement, earnestly tries to live by the white society’s rules.  He makes his living by putting up log fences for farmers – which seems symbolic of their theft of native land and subsequent barriers to access for the original owners.  Of course, Jimmie is complicit in this crime (he builds the fences!) but he is invariably mistreated and swindled by his white bosses. Even when he marries a white woman (assumed to be pregnant with his child), he isn’t accepted -- and strangers are ready to undermine his marriage at every turn.  An early turn as a police officer, involving beating other Indigenous people as commanded, also gives us a view of how badly Blackfellas were treated and how much Jimmie was able to separate himself (with encouragement) from his roots. But, but, but, eventually all this harsh treatment and the pernicious racist attitudes of the whites around him finally gets to Jimmie and he explodes in violence.  Undoubtedly, reactions to his acts are complicated – can violence ever be sanctioned as a result of persistent mistreatment? When is enough finally enough?  The other Indigenous characters in the film condemn the violence – but Jimmie is at war.  However, this is a war (righteous though it is) that Jimmie cannot win on his own.  The film explores these events with an unblinking eye, nuanced characterisations, and some beautiful images of the land/natural environment. However, we must ask ourselves have things changed and how complicit are we in the continuing negative treatment of people of colour, in Australia and beyond?