Bran Nue Dae (Rachel Perkins, 2009): Australia

Reviewed by Mathew Roscoe. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, in the Metro IV Theater.

Rum-ba bum bum bum bum bum bum HEY!

At the Santa Barbara Festival

This jaunty Austrie musical

Was perhaps the funnest one of all

Hardly art, but still a ball!

With such sad films that make you cry

Some so dark, you wanna die

Cheer up, buddy, come on by

And please give Bran Neu Dae a try!

There’s nothing I would rather do

Than to give films like this one a view

A silly, song-filled bright journey

About the Austrie Aborigini

So sure, I wouldn’t call it ‘good’

But the point that must be understood

Is to not take this film as serious

Don’t try, you’ll be delirious

Enjoyable, it’s just good fun

It shines far brighter than the sun!

With colors abundant and music galore

No one could care that the plot was quite poor

A token romance and plot holes for sure

But with a zany cast that’s never a bore

With a heart that’s just so strong and pure

They’ll take you on a magical tour

It’ll rock your socks to your very core

Make you hungry, always wanting more!

Dum dad um doo deed ah doo day!

It starts with a young boy named Willie

Who’s as loveable as can be

Simple and free, the boy assumes

His life belongs in the ports of Broome

Born and raised in this joyous place

He’s enchanted by a pretty face

His bonnie lass, who sings real well

When they’re together, he feels real swell!

But his momma sends him off to Perth

In hopes of a catholic rebirth

He’s schooled at the mission by a priest

Who’s crazy as hell, to say the least!

Played by Geoffrey Rush, the priest’s a hoot

Constant comic gold, you’ll love that coot!

But the boy gets sick of his brimstone ways

Decides he can no longer stay

Leaves the mission, goes on a long quest

To find the girl he loves the best

He befriends some hippies and a bum

Sing songs that you will surely hum

Travelin’ together, they are quite the team

Twists and turns throughout their scheme

To bring Willie back to his girl and home

No matter how far they must roam

They face a horny fat old hag

Hide the weed they got in their bag

But with crazy priest hot on their tail

Willie must reach Broome, he cannot fail

He’s goal is set, and soon he sees

His roots as an Aborigine

(Bring in background choir)

In a climax full of crazy luck

Where nonsense plot twists run amuck

The crowd was cheerin, laughin’ loud

Director Rachel Perkins should be proud!

And as the credits started rolling

There was no crying or consoling

Only joy, laughter, and mirth,

For we realized this film’s true worth,

While the truly good films are much deeper

I promise you, this one’s a keeper

(Epic orchestral accompaniment)

As important as it may be

To be moved by films of higher degree

Profound themes that make you see

The truths of life that set you free

In spite of that, you must agree

That once in a while, occasionally

All one needs is a little glee

A chance to oh-so-briefly flee

To a simpler world of felicity

If that’s your wish, I guarantee

Bran Neu Dae is the key

To a bouncy, catchy laughing spree!