Starring: Adam Goodes, Stan Grant, Nova Peris, Gilbert McAdam, Michael O'Loughlin, Paul Roos, John Longmire, Tracey Holmes, Linda Burney, Nicky Winmar, Nathan Buckley, Natalie Goodes, Brett Goodes
Distributor: Madman Films
Runtime: 105 mins. Reviewed in Aug 2019
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The Australian aborigines have the Dreaming. For those who came later to the land, there is always the reshaping and re-hoping of The Australian Dream.
Adam Goodes, AFL star, Brownlow medallist winner, Australian of the year 2014, is the subject of two 2019 documentaries, The Final Quarter, shown on television, and this film which has a commercial release. It is a film which is significant for all audiences in Australia.
Initially, a collage of images and episodes indicates the controversial nature of the film and opinion divisions in Australian society about Adam Goodes, his aboriginality, his response to racist responses and insults leading to continued booing during his play, especially in 2014 and 2015, and the criticisms of his being named Australian of the Year.
For those who admired Goodes as a talented player and for those who do not know much about him, the first part of the film is an excellent tribute to his talent and skills, telling excerpts from a variety of games. It is in this context that we see him as Australian of the Year, hearing his speeches, focusing on his background as an aboriginal Australian, Australian aboriginal, and the challenge to long attitudes of racism, the challenge to fairness and justice.
Goodes agreed to be interviewed for this film which gives him an opportunity to reflect on his upbringing, lack of knowledge about being aboriginal, his gradual learning, doing courses, becoming more articulate on the issues, the affirmation that he received in the first decade and more of his football career, it also ships, the shock and disappointment of the insults, the wear and tear of the continued booing harassment, the psychological consequences, the growing disenchantment with AFL.
The narrative of the film was written by Stan Grant who also appears significantly offering comment on Goodes himself and his experience with excerpts from significant speeches that he gave on these issues, speaking from the inside and his own experiences as a national and international journalist.
There are also many interviews, the strong presence of Adam Goodes’ mother, his marriage to Natalie and her support, a variety of football personalities, inside racial and political views by Nova Peris and Linda Burney, strong comment by sports television personality, Tracey Holmes.
All strong dramas have a significant villain – and, in this film’s case, media commentator, Andrew Bolt, with excerpts from his television programs, serves as a devil’s advocate concerning (with critical attack) Goodes. And, there are glimpses of an unwise fool in television personality Sam Newman. Eddie McGuire comes out on the side of the angels, but not without some thoughtless comments, but with some apologies.
The film, and Stan Grant, have created a challenging atmosphere for the Australian viewer, an experience of being alerted to and then being appalled at so much inherent racism, the faces and shouts of abusers, the gross inarticulate bombast of so many tweets that are shown on screen, and video of a sting racist rant.
So, the two films serve as a means for an Australian examination of conscience – and can lead to a profound challenge to Australian consciousness.
Peter Malone MSC is an Associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting.
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