THE CHANT OF JIMMIE BLACKSMITH (1978) / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR & SCREENPLAY: FRED SCHEPISI / STARRING: TOMMY LEWIS, FREDDY REYNOLDS, ANGELA PUNCH MCGREGOR / RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 26TH
This powerful true story, based on the real life of Jimmy Governor, is an Australian classic, but hasn’t garnered the same attention in the UK. This could change with Eureka’s Blu-ray release, which is a great transfer of a fine movie, complete with some interesting extras to round off a decent package.
The film, based on the 1972 novel by Thomas Keneally, throws us straight into turn of the century Australia, introducing us to a young Jimmie, who is half Aboriginal, torn between his tribe and his guardian, the uptight but well-meaning Revered Neville. After getting drunk one too many times, the Reverend tells Jimmie he needs to keep on the straight and narrow in order to secure a job and make a future for himself. Knowing he has a slight advantage over the Aboriginal tribe he grew up with, due to being half white, Jimmie sets off to find his fortune. Unfortunately for him, his options are limited in such an oppressive society. After trying fence building, a brief stint as a constable and helping out at a farm, Jimmie is finally pushed over the edge after marrying a white woman carrying a baby that isn’t his. When his new employer refuses to give him enough provisions, his pride hurt for the last time, he takes bloody revenge on the employer’s family. Suddenly he finds himself on the run, from everyone from the army to the family in question. Soap fans may recognise Ray Meagher, best known for playing Alf in Home and Away, as one of the sons.
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith has a relentless pace to it. We are taken on a true journey with our protagonist – we feel his trials and tribulations as he takes slight knocks with a smile, replying “Yes boss!” with dignity each time, even though the insults and injustices are slowly wearing him down, the smile starting to crack until it becomes too much to bear. Brilliantly played by Tom Lewis, he tries to make the best life for himself, desperate to play by the rules of the white elite, but not being allowed to, due to the colour of his skin.
The Blu-ray release has a good interview with director Fred Schepisi and Tom Lewis, on the casting process and the difficulty of getting the film produced in the first place. It also features a Q&A at the Melbourne Film Festival with the director and Geoffrey Rush, but the strongest piece is the documentary Making us Blacksmiths, filmed in the 70s. It’s firstly interesting to see how much Fred Schepisi has changed in 30 years, but it also details the process of getting Tom Lewis and his co-star Freddy Reynolds ready for filming, as they had never acted before. It shows the importance of an acting coach and giving Tom and Freddy the confidence to get into character. There is no doubt that this paid dividends to both actors, who give varied and powerful performances in a film that details a misrepresented part of colonial Australia, in all its injustices and brutality that can still be felt to this day. Important stuff indeed.
