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Parents' Guide to

Walkabout

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Disturbing, arty survival film best for adults, older teens.

Movie NR 1971 100 minutes
Walkabout Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

kkurcisk
kkurcisk Parent of 12-year-old
February 15, 2012
age 15+

Artistic survival story

This is a memorable film, and well worth the time investment to watch with your older kids. I first saw it in a high school English class, but sought it out to watch with my son when he was a teenager. The film powerfully communicates themes of optimism (not giving up), self-reliance, and our common fellowship with other people. It's not so much critical of "modern culture" as of the potential for dehumanization in urban life. We clearly see how impossible it is to be a cog in the machine when you're wandering the outback. There is relatively little dialog; the film relies heavily on visual storytelling, and the cinematography is spectacular. This is a film to watch attentively and discuss - it's not a Friday night popcorn kind of film. Unless you take your Friday night films seriously.
1 person found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Parent of 7-year-old
September 6, 2023
age 17+

Abstract, violent and with imagery that centers climate relationships

This is not a typical film. Roeg creates a film that is very 1970s in its style and unique in its scope. The introduction of Gulpilil to the world has been the greatest gift this film has given the world. A talented actor that offered so much in every film. This film is abstract, violent, and has imagery around climate relationships. At times the film feels scattered and random and other times it is so intimate with the terrain that you feel like you're sweating under the sun. This film dares to unite the terrain and its subjects and presents a topic vision of what that could be and then it's shattered at different points. Strong stuff.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After an Australian teen girl and her young brother are abandoned by their violent father they must find their way home through the beautiful and desolate Outback. The siblings show startling resilience and strength as they suffer from hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and oddly-detached emotions. On the brink of death, the duo meets an Aboriginal teen who helps them survive through hunting and foraging. As the group gets closer to formal civilization, the trio splits in a disturbing series of events meant to comment on the contrasts between Western and traditional cultures, as well as the loss of innocence.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (3 ):

The film is full of gorgeous images, fascinating soundscapes, and quietly disturbing scenes that create an evocative and powerful piece of art and commentary. The contrasts between the natural and the urban and the Western and Aboriginal are provocative, critiquing modern culture in a way that's both subtle and stark. The characters are barely developed, and yet their performances are strong. All the positives outweigh some of the odd art-film elements that seem outdated at times, or just misplaced. Sometimes it's hard to understand the young boy, in part because of his accent, which detracts from the overall impact of certain scenes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about survival. What did the teen girl and young boy have to do in order to survive? Were you surprised by anything they did or by how they acted? How did their methods of survival differ from the Aboriginal teen?

  • Talk about cultural differences. How did the film portray the contrast between the urban and nature-based cultures? What message did you get from the film, and was it different from what you think the filmmakers intended?

Movie Details

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