Dead Heart

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Dead Heart ★★★ 1996

Culture clash story set in the 1930s is highlighted by a terrific lead performance by Brown. He's cop Ray Lorkin, whose territory is the tiny community of Wala Wala in Australia's outback. This remote spot just happens to be a focal point for the local aboriginals, who regard the area as a spiritual place. Trouble erupts when an aboriginal prisoner (Pederson), who just happened to be having an affair with the schoolteacher's white wife (Mikkiken) is found hanged in his cell. Tradition demands revenge—from there every other situation in the community just gets worse. First-timer Parsons directs from his stage play. 106m/C VHS, DVD . AU Bryan Brown, Ernie Dingo, Angie Milliken, Aasron Pedersen, Lewis FitzGerald, John Jarratt, Anne Tenney, Gnarnayarrahe Waitaire, Lafe Charlton; D: Nick Parsons; W: Nick Parsons; C: James Bartle; M: Stephen Rae.