By David Farrier
Critics have called Australian film Samson and Delilah one of the most confronting and important films about indigenous culture ever made.
But director Warwick Thornton is taking the praise in his stride.
Much like the biblical Samson and Delilah, this is not your typical love story.
The two main characters do not share a single word. It sounds ridiculous, but the film went on to win Best First Feature at this years Cannes Film Festival.
Thornton not only directed it, but wrote and shot it all himself as well.
“Some people call it ego, some call it control freak,” he says.
The movie tells the story of two aboriginal teens who try to make a break from the community they grew up in.
Adding to the realism is the fact both lead actors were not actually actors – they were hand picked by Thornton and shown what to do along the way.
Carrying on with his unique way of doing things, Thornton also cast his alcoholic brother as an alcoholic.
“I decided I’d write this part for him, but he has to go to rehab and sober up if he wants the part, and he agreed to that,” he says.
All of this has culminated in an award winning movie, which was made on the cheap, for under $2 million – although it has already almost double its money in box office takings.
The film opens in selected Kiwi theatres on Thursday.
3 News