Movie: The Nightingale
Release: 2019
Written By: Jennifer Kent
Directed By: Jennifer Kent
Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Maya Christie, Baykali Ganambarr
Genre: Adventure / Drama / Thriller
Language: English, Irish Gaelic, Aboriginal
Runtime: 2h 16m
Overall Rating: ★★★★ (4.0)
Movie TW: r*pe, racial abuse
Synopsis:
The movie starts introducing us to Claire (Aisling Franciosi), an Irish convict who works as a servant for a unit of British army soldiers in Tasmania (then, Van Diemen’s Land). Living with her husband, Aidan (Michael Sheasby) and their baby. She has been awaiting a letter from Lieutenant Hawkins (Sam Caflin), which would allow the family freedom however; he refuses, instead continuing to keep her as a servant and for his own personal use. Without spoiling anything, things escalate to one major event, which leaves Claire angry (that puts it lightly) and devastated and hell bent on getting revenge on the Lt. Hawkins and his men. She brings “Billy” Managala (Baykali Ganambarr) along on the journey, an aboriginal man, and tracker (who is low-key my favourite).
Review
When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I was sceptical about whether I would go and see it. I am not normally a fan of obviously Australian TV shows and movies because seeing local places in fictional stories/TV shows/movies etc. makes me uncomfortable (irrational, I know). However because it’s set c. 1825 in the Tasmanian bush, I thought ‘what the heck, let’s check it out’. Honestly, I am so glad I did.
If you’ve read my ‘about’ page or know anything about my taste in movies you know if I know a movie has a graphic, or even semi graphic r*pe scene, that’s a no go for me and I won’t even think about watching it. To give the movie some credit on this part, I probably should have guessed something like this would happen from the trailer, but I was oblivious.
I should have expected it, but it still came as a shock when there were three really really full on r*pe scenes which were super uncomfortable to watch. The third one, which is the worst and most brutal for other reasons, I nearly walked out of the cinema because it upset me so much.
The ‘chase’ throughout the movie felt like a losing game in the beginning with Lt. Hawkins already on his way to Launceston, going through the bush with a handful of his men and Charlie, another aboriginal tracker. Slowly but surely, both Billy and even Charlie (after seeing how abhorrent they really are) know how to outsmart the men, and he and Claire start to catch up. The rest of the movie is Claire seeking her revenge on all of the men with Hawkins.
Not only was the character development with Billy and Claire great to see but I was intrigued with the men in the army unit (besides Hawkins, he was just a straight up selfish asshole). You had Ruse (Damon Herriman), Jago (Harry Greenwood), Goodwin (Ewen Leslie) and Eddie (Charlie Shotwell). I believe the only actual characters who even had even an inkling of a soul, were Jago (if you have watched the movie, hear me out) and Eddie. Ruse had no thoughts of his own, and just followed whatever Hawkins said. Goodwin - I do not think he said more than five words in the whole film.
However, with both Eddie and Jago they struggled with their morals in the film. Eddie wanting to be accepted by the men and be freed of his own imprisonment and Jago having to cope and come to terms with what he had done in the beginning of the film. Neither did the things they did for fun or shits and giggles. Jago did as he was told and panicked. Eddie wanted to be included and was manipulated. The writing and the way they were portrayed I found myself almost feeling sorry for them - like what
Besides those first scenes - the movie was beautiful. Half the movie when they were wandering through the bush it just made me want to go bushwalking. I also want to go back to Tasmania just to explore some more because gosh darn was it pretty (yes, I said gosh darn)
Not only was this film beautifully filmed, amazingly performed and just all roundly fantastic – it shows an important time in Australian history, which has continued to this day. Now I do not consider myself a specialist on this topic or any of the sort, but I can recognise and acknowledge this portrayal of the colonisation of Australia is the closest thing to accurate I’ve seen so far. It is a discussion that we need and more people need to create movies like this to keep the conversation going, so we can keep going and we can hopefully learn for the future to not fuck up so much like we have continued to.
I cannot speak on how accurate the portrayal of the aboriginal men and women were in the movie (If you can, please educate me). However, Billy was such an important character in this film and the changing relationship between Claire and him was one of my favourite parts of the film. They went from hating each other > bonding over their hatred of the British > tolerating each other > protecting one another > friends > family. This was a beautiful thing to watch especially when it came to the last scene of the film. These two have such great on-screen chemistry (not in like a love way), that it just makes their bond so beautiful and believable.
The whole cast did such an amazing job but hands down to Aisling Franciosi who really took the cake with this one. I felt like I was right there with her, going through those stages of grief and she portrayed it so well. I cant finish this without also mentioning that Baykali Ganambarr as well did such an amazing job as “Billy” Managala - I cried a couple of times just from his performances alone.
All in all, it was an amazing film. If I were to watch it again, I would just skip those three scenes in the beginning. Like I said though, the rets of the film was beautiful. It is definitely worth a watch so please check it out it is definitely worth your while.
Also fun trivia tidbit I didn’t realise it was written/directed/produced by Jennifer Kent who also did The Babadook (2014)!
Thanks for reading,
Your Local Horror Queen xo
P.S. If you have any tips on how I can improve my reviews, please let me know – I am open to suggestions!