High Ground (2020 film)
High Ground is a 2020 Australian film directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson (director of Yolngu Boy), and produced by David Jowsey, Maggie Miles, Witiyana Marika, Greer Simpkin and Stephen Maxwell Johnson.[1] It premiered at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on 23 February 2020 with a gala screening, and was selected for the Berlinale Special section.[2][3][4][5] The film was originally planned to have a local release in Australia on 9 July 2020,[1][6] this was later changed to early 2021,[7] until a further announcement revealed the Brisbane International Film Festival would host the Australian premier on 1 October 2020.[8]
High Ground | |
---|---|
Directed by | Stephen Maxwell Johnson |
Produced by | David Jowsey Maggie Miles Witiyana Marika Greer Simpkin Stephen Maxwell Johnson |
Written by | Chris Anastassiades |
Starring | Simon Baker Callan Mulvey Jack Thompson Caren Pistorius Ryan Corr |
Cinematography | Andrew Commis |
Production company | High Ground Pictures Pty Ltd |
Distributed by | Madman Films Madman Entertainment Samuel Goldwyn Films |
Release date | 23 February 2020 |
Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | Australia |
Language | English |
Plot
After fighting in WWI as a sniper, "Travis", now a policeman in northern Australia, loses control of an operation that results in the massacre of an Aboriginal Australian tribe in 1919. After his superiors insist on burying the truth, Travis leaves in disgust, only to be forced back twelve years later to hunt down Baywara, an Aboriginal warrior whose attacks on new-settlers are causing havoc. When Travis recruits mission-raised Gutjuk, the only known massacre-survivor as his tracker, the truth of the past is revealed and Travis becomes the hunted.
Cast
Includes:
- Simon Baker as Travis
- Callan Mulvey as Eddy
- Jack Thompson as Moran
- Caren Pistorius as Claire
- Ryan Corr as Braddock
- Jacob Jr. Nayinggul as Gutjuk
Production
The film was shot on location in the Kakadu National Park and in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The film was a High Ground Pictures production. It was financed by Screen Australia, Maxo Studios, Screen Territory, Film Victoria, Bunya Productions and Savage Films.[9]
References
- "High Ground". Facebook. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Elsa Keslassy (22 February 2020). "Berlinale Gala Player 'High Ground' With Simon Baker Sells to Samuel Goldwyn (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Guy Lodge (23 February 2020). "'High Ground': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Stephanie Bunbury (24 February 2020). "'People weren't ready': Australian massacre aired at Berlin festival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- Stephen Dalton (23 February 2020). "High Ground: Film Review Berlin 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- "Bunya's High Ground official Australian release date revealed". Bunya Productions. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- "HIGH GROUND will be coming to Australian cinemas early 2021". Facebook. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- "BIFF 2020 – AN UNMISSABLE SEASON OF CINEMA". Brisbane International Film Festival. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- Elsa Keslassy (2 November 2018). "Playtime Acquires Australian Action Film 'High Ground' with Simon Baker (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.