WHERE THE GREEN ANTS DREAM

I'm sure most of you are familiar with German director Werner Herzog and if you're not then look him up. One of his earliest English language films was this seemingly forgotten gem called Where The Green Ants Dream. Set in an unknown outback location (presumedly Arnham Land) a mining company gets caught at loggerheads with the local Aboriginal community and the case ends up in the Supreme Court. The film follows an on-site geologist played by Bruce Spence who finds himself the appointed indigenous affairs liaison. It's an odd film but an important one. It does feel strange being told this story (inspired by true events) by a German filmmaker and I wonder how it would have been told by a local... but then again sometimes it takes an outsider to paint a confronting picture (Wake In Fright for example). At times it's apparent that many of the aboriginal players are non-actors but this can also be accepted as a simple language barrier. Also at times the story strays off course with a few minor subplots that don't bare much relevance (at least not to me on this first viewing) but this is an overall important and elusive film. Like the indigenous people it represents, the film has been ignored for years. It's been forgotten over time and lost in obscurity. I had to source my copy from overseas (the opening and closing credits are in German) and I'm baffled as to why it has no local release. It must have been predominantly German funded... I'm not sure. It would make for a great study subject in the secondary school syllabus, if only it had better recognition. If you love Herzog and important Australian stories then you'll want to get your hands on this one.

---