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Review by Dennis McDonald

This 1971 movie is stunning. More words come to mind but that one is the most apt. Despite some dated photographic techniques, the views of Australia are extraordinary. The confrontation between “civilization” and “nature” exhibited through contrasts between the lost white children and their Aborigine rescuer/companion is still thought-provoking and troubling, despite the film’s age.

It’s not a simple film. There are no warm and fuzzy attempts to distract from the real differences being shown between Civilization and Nature. What might have been displayed as a “Garden of Eden,” for example, is also shown to be harsh and unforgiving. Getting lost in the Outback with little more than the clothes on your back is shown to be a real challenge. Also, the nudity that was cut from the film when initially released in the U.S. is no longer controversial; instead, it’s merely distracting.

Review copyright (c) 2010 by Dennis D. McDonald