Sydney Film Festival 2016 - Film Review - Goldstone

Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) in Goldstone

Australian director and screenwriter, Ivan Sen brings his indigenous detective character, Jay Swan back to the screen in this full feature set in a small mining town of Goldstone in the Australian Outback. Swan (Aaron Pedersen) a flawed but ultimately determined police officer is sent to Goldstone in search of missing Chinese girl. As his inquiries proceed he finds himself being warned off by the local Mayor (Jacki Weaver), the mining boss (David Wenham), the local Aboriginal Land Council Chairman (Tom E Lewis) and his motel room is blasted by gunfire. The sole young local police officer, Josh (Alex Russell) also seems to be part of the network however Swan is uncertain how far the influence extends. The full gamut of tactful persuasion is at play in Goldstone - corruption, politics, corporate greed, the environment and Aboriginal mythology. The stage is set for a shoot-out between law enforcers and law breakers in the finale of the film.

The well established cast handles the suspenseful and later action-packed script expertly with Jackie Weaver and David Wenham particularly effective, respectively as the villianous town Mayor and mining boss. Veteran Aboriginal actor, David Gulpilil, adds an authenticity to the connection to land aspect of the film and the mythology underpinning Aboriginal belief. Ivan Sen has made full use of the endless sun, extensive panorama and the stark landscape of outback Queensland to establish the picture frame in which the action proceeds.