Samson and Delilah

Everything in "Samson and Delilah" is about rhythm. It's deliberately slow and somewhat recursive in dealing with urban life versus rural life, simplicity versus complexity and similar themes. I do, however, suspect that this indeed Thornton's goal: To portray the beauty and simplicity in everyday life. It's a simple morale wrapped in gorgeous photography, natural performances and a somewhat free-flowing form of storytelling. It's like a series of snapshots. Refreshingly restrained.

What a debut for Warwick Thornton! A slow-paced drama exploring deep into the lives of two teenagers. Showing completely different way of communication between people...words are just useless. The film is filled entirely with desperation, great cinematography, and brilliant acting. Three elements that surely guarantees success.The subtle tone of hope given in the end by Warwick was accurately placed. It's totally my fav of '09.

Engrossing, languid and beautifully shot. The performances are inexpert but effective. Does it earn its ending? I'm not sure, but there are striking moments along the way.

????? ?? ??? ????????? ???? , ???? ?????? ????? ? ???????? ???? ? ??????. ??? ??? ? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ???????? ?? ??????. ???? ????? ???? ? ???? ? ??? ???? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????

a very quiet and thoughtful film set in an indigenous village. didn't need the wash of sentimental music near the end.

So much going on with so few words spoken. Mesmerizing, desperately sad but not without hope.

Best silent lovestory since sunrise. Points for the musical motifs.

Desperate ignorance among backwards uneducated aboriginals. A hapless love story right out of the stone age. I have not been more bored, nor disgusted with such pathetic ignorance in a movie in quite a while. I couldn't possibly recommend this movie to anyone except as a treatise on how never to write, direct or produce a film. There is only the slightest redeeming quality in the ending, but not worth the misery and drudgery of watching this nearly pointless story.

A heart rendering, earnest and honest depiction of wretched suffering, wasted spirit and tainted love

A really terrifically made Australian film about not so much racism, but the cultural differences and awkwardness between white Australians and the native Aboriginals, an important issue especially as of now. The ending was too long though and really felt like empty space compared to all that had happened before.

A stunning story of love, betrayal and redemption, as well as a hard-hitting depiction of the poverty, abuse and exclusion many aboriginal people have no choice but to live with. Thornton's direction is stunning and reminds us how powerful cinema can be without even needing to resort to dialogue. The mere presence of the camera was enough to generate sympathy for the characters without ever being used in a manipulative or mawkish way. The performances were spot-on too. Australian cinema FTW!

"The corporeal manifestation of socio-ethnic politics is one of the director's many visual tools rather than his primary editorial goal." - Joseph Jon Lanthier

A social commentary that strives not to sacrifice the art. Whereas most movies that reduce dialogue to a bare minimum end up either communicating very little, or else as commentary on the absence of communication, this film works harder to create a sense of non-verbal communication between the protagonists, and expresses to the audience something of the play of communication and non-communication, significance and insignificance, that characterises the lives and milieu of the characters.

The first two thirds are bleak yet compelling, but it's like they had no idea how to end the film. Also, the 'Delilah' character is very underwritten and we never really feel that we know her.