MovieChat Forums > Samson & Delilah (2009) Discussion > How does this get 7.5 rating?? (possible...

How does this get 7.5 rating?? (possible spoiler)

posted 14 years ago by winonaforever2
5 replies | jump to latest

I just can't understand it. I just saw this film, and I found it terrible. It's funny when you rent a dvd in Australia and it comes with the annoying message of "We all enjoy a good Aussie film...what you're really burning is the future of Australian film industry..." and you see the poster of this film burning, you'd think this film is good. I couldn't bear to watch it. There's hardly any dialogue. To say it's slow is to put it in a nice way. Nothing happens in this film. A couple of poor aboriginal kids who sniff petrol. That's it. They don't even talk to each other. I saw and heard all the good reviews and awards. I mean, I watch serious films, I watch many Aussie films. I love independent films, so it's not that I'm the sort of viewer who only watches popcorn flicks and action blockbusters, because I actually don't like that sort of films. I just don't get how this is a good film. I've read that it's meant to draw attention to the Aboriginal problem, well, it still is a bad movie. I've seen other films that deal with Aborigines like "The fringe dwellers" which is a better film, with a story, a development and a dialogue. I guess it got all the attention because it deals with aboriginal issues and everybody gave it the sympathy vote. I just don't see it like that, in my opinion in Australia everyone is given a fair go, everyone has a chance to have an education and the to prosper in life. Life is tough for non-Aboriginal people too. If you want something you have to work for it, not just sit there all day doing nothing. I'm sorry but I just didn't get this film. Please someone enlighten me and show me how this is a good film.

[–] thenumber21 14 years ago

First of all, are you serious?? If your joking ignore the rest of this post, but if not, please coninue...

Second of all, this film isn't a masterpiece, but it is a well-made depiction of some of the absolute poverty that is in place in Australian society, and tbh i fail to believe, how after having watched this, how someone could not see the inequality.

This film, especially in the beginning, is very slow, with many shots repeated and little dialogue on purpose - this is the boring, monotony which these people are faced with everyday. You say in Australia everyone has opportunity, but in this case, how were these people able to get that?? You saw, when Delilah went to the Art Gallery to sell her painting and they wouldnt buy it, how she and her Grandmother were receiving significantly less than the profit of the art seller, how is this equal opportunity??

Life is tough for non-Aboriginal people too, I will totally agree with you there. But in most circumstances, the greater white society is in no way even remotely close to the absolute decripit poverty that these people faced. Are your own surroundings anything like those of Samson and Delilah's original Indigenous commuinity?

And more to the point, seen in the film with Samson and Delilah, once you leave the community, Where do you go? They clearly couldnt live in what we would call adequately in Alice Springs. What do you do? You saw the way the security guard eyed Samson in the supermarket. Without education or qualifications what possible employment opportunities are these people meant to have??

Honestly I can understand anybody not liking a film, you dont like something you dont like something, everyone has there opinions. But if you actually think real life is all peachy and rosy then you have serious issues (with all due respect). Australia is the land of milk and honey, it is a place of great opportunity for most, for the rest however, where does this opportunity come from??

[–] winonaforever2 14 years ago

So you basically are saying that because this film depicts something that can happen, (or happens) that is reason enough to make it good? I don't think so, you should just judge it as a film, not as some sort of political statement. It was just hilarious, I don't even know why the girl bothered with that loser guy. She first gets abducted, probably raped and bashed and the other guy almost didn't notice. The second time she gets hit by a car and the guy doesn't even turn his head, too busy sniffing petrol, yet she goes back to him. What bothered me the most is that there's not dialogue between them, they don't speak. Nothing happens, just sniffing petrol. As for what you say that they couldn't live in civilized society. Well, why didnt they go to social services or Centrelink or Housing and Community Services, etc?, they could have helped them, at least they would have known about options.There's lots of organisations and programs to help aboriginal people as well. They could have come in contact with other aboriginal people from the towns. Well if you had a business would you employ someone with or without qualifications? I'm just tired of this thing that white people have created this and all that. Yeah white people are real bad. If those kids didn't go to school is because their families didn't want them to go or didn't care. I mean they're not stupid. Didn't they know how to drive? I never said Australia was the land of milk and honey, but I think if you work hard and go for it, you can earn a decent living and manage to be happy. At least in Australia the government can help you. There's heaps of immigrants, Africans,Asians they hardly speak any English, they're not used to western society, yet they study English and work hard and can get jobs and buy cars, etc. Even if you buy this people(people in the movie) a house they would completely trash it in a couple of weeks. You give them money they wouldnt know how to manage it and would end up spending it all on the first couple of days. Why don't try to act as civilized society? Why don't try to learn?
Going back to the beginning, i think this film would have been better if we had known what they were thinking and see them interact not just between themselves but with other people too. They didn't veen talk to the hobo guy who lived under the bridge. Just a weird film way overated.

[–] thenumber21 14 years ago

Oh well, an opinion is an opinion I guess. I think this film is more a film of feeling more than anything else. Neither Samson nor Delilah need to talk to eachother - there understanding of eachother comes more from their silence than their dialogue.

Tbh I agree with you to a certain extent - there is opportunity in Australia for everyone, and in terms of Indigenous poverty there is alot that they could be doing to improve their own situation. Now, I'm not saying this film is an absolutely true depiction of real life, I think some liberties have been taken, but nowhere in this film did I see a centrelink, or a school. The only white charavcters in this film seemed to ignore the impoverished people around them. I'm not saying every one in real life is like this, but there is alot white Australia doesn't understand - especially in terms of the poverty in our own backyard.

Also with the lack of "talking" - I think the characters themselves are very scared of their own surroundings. I don't know if its lack of education, or lack of understanding, but sometimes words can't express feeling as well as silence (no matter how uncomfortable). Keep in mind as well, the main characters are kids - I think the actors playing them are only 15/16 so its likely the characters are that age as well. Thats very young to be dealing with these issues around them (isolation, total rejection etc).

And finally... I think you make a few generalisations - "even if you give them a house they just trash it in a couple of weeks." I think things are a little more complicated than that. As for the petrol sniffing, dependancies like that, once started (like any addiction) are incredibly difficult to stop. It is their own surroundings which cause things like this, and there is alot the Indigenous community could do to help themselves, but there is alot we could be doing as well to stop this sort of behaviour.

[–] Seymour-3 14 years ago

When you sit down to watch a film like 'Samson and Delilah' and bring along prejudices and a lack of empathy, the likely reaction will be annoyance and misunderstanding.

If you think we're all on a level playing field, and that decades/centuries of systemic cultural disadvantage plays no part in limiting your progress in this world.. well all I can do is encourage you to think a little deeper about how your lineage and surroundings can affect the direction life tries to take you. Sure, we can all overcome hardships; I'm sure there are plenty of "Samsons" and "Delilahs" who have overcome situations similar to the ones in the film.

The purpose of the film isn't to change bigoted minds. It's too subtle to achieve that feat. I'd say Thornton is going more for empathy and understanding, than sympathy; quite different things. Those in the audience unfamiliar with life in these little outback communities, and willing to acknowledge the common humanity we share - and thus are horrified by the inequality and disadvantage to be found - will be awakened and provoked by this film. In fact I'm reminded of Spike Lee's "Wake Up!" sequences; this film screams "Wake Up!" too.

If you are still annoyed that kids like Samson and Delilah can't get their lives in order, with all the "help" they get from us white folks - can I suggest you google "1967 referendum" and meditate on what you discover. I mean, *really* think about it.

Re- the lack of dialogue - some stories can be taught without words, or at least with very few words. Think '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Alien', even 'WALL-E' or large sections of 'City of Lost Children'; all wonderful films with very little dialogue.

I like what thenumber21 is saying in response to your message but I'd disagree with one point; I think the film is a masterpiece. The recognition it's received (Cannes, IF, AFIs etc.) is entirely appropriate.

[–] paulalexburns 14 years ago

This is a masterpiece. The silence tells so much more than the dialouge, can't you see? And I was riveted by it, anything but bored.