In The Home Sweet Country

A milestone for Australian indigenous cinema

Lee Marshall – Screen International

★★★★★ Stark, shocking, superbly shot... This is fiercely powerful storytelling

Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian

★★★★★ Unforgettable. A new Australian classic

Kate Taylor – The Globe and Mail

Inspired by real events, Sweet Country is a period western set in 1929 in the outback of the Northern Territory, Australia. When Aboriginal stockman Sam (Hamilton Morris) kills white station owner Harry March (Ewen Leslie) in self-defence, Sam and his wife Lizzie (Natassia Gorey-Furber) go on the run. They are pursued across the outback, through glorious but harsh desert country.

Sergeant Fletcher (Bryan Brown) leads the posse with the help of Aboriginal tracker Archie (Gibson John) and local landowners Fred Smith (Sam Neill) and Mick Kennedy (Thomas M. Wright). Fletcher is desperate to capture Sam and put him on trial for murder – but Sam is an expert bushman and he has little difficulty outlasting them. Eventually, for the health of his pregnant wife, Sam decides to give himself up. He is put on trial in the courtroom of Judge Taylor (Matt Day). But will justice be served?

Filmmakers
Director: Warwick Thornton
Writer: Steven McGregor, David Tranter
Producers: Greer Simpkin, David Jowsey
Cast
Hamilton Morris
Bryan Brown
Thomas M. Wright
Ewen Leslie
Anni Finsterer
Matt Day
Sam Neill
Natassia Gorey-Furber
Awards
Special Jury Prize - Venice Film Festival
Platform Prize - Toronto International Film Festival
Best Fiction Feature - Adelaide Film Festival Audience Awards
Best Feature Film - Asia Pacific Screen Award
Genre
Australian
Drama