In a remote Aboriginal community, 10-year-old Daniel yearns to be a 'gangster' like the male role models in his life. Skipping school, getting into fights and running drugs for Linden who runs the main gang in town, Daniel is well on his way to accomplishing his goal, when rival drug dealer Bruce returns from prison and a violent showdown ensues.
When can I watch it?
Sunday August 30, 9:30pm, NITV
MA+15 | AUS, 2012 | Director: Ivan Sen
2011 interview with director Ivan Sen at Cannes
Australian director Ivan Sen and cast discuss his new film, Toomelah, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2011festival.
The Movie Show review
Confronting drama effectively captures modern mission life.
CANNES: Ivan Sen’s Toomelah opens on a series of close-ups of boxing trophies depicting champion fighters with fists poised in readiness for a bout, but whose feet are stuck to the trophy base.
10 year-old Daniel (Daniel Connors) is a feisty descendent of the recipients of these prizes, and the youngster is stuck in his own form of stasis; he is fast losing his links to his Indigenous heritage, and facing a limited range of life choices on the dilapidated Toomelah mission. It’s no accident that his standard response to his mother’s 'Where have you been?" and 'Where are you going?", is the all-encompassing 'Nowhere".
