Samson and Delilah (2009 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Warwick Thornton |
| Products | Film |
Samson and Delilah is a 2009 Australian tragic drama written and helmed by Warwick Thornton, featuring debut performances from Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson. The narrative centers on two Indigenous Australian teenagers, both aged 14, residing in a remote Aboriginal settlement. They abscond with a vehicle and head to Alice Springs in an attempt to escape their difficult circumstances. The film garnered several accolades, notably winning the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for best first feature, and was selected as Australia's entry for the 82nd Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category, advancing to the January shortlist.
Plot
Samson is a non-verbal adolescent addicted to petrol sniffing, living in a dilapidated shelter near Alice Springs. His peace is often disturbed by his brother's ska band rehearsals. Delilah tends to her elderly grandmother, producing dot paintings they sell for small amounts. Samson desires Delilah’s attention, but she remains distant. Following her grandmother’s death and subsequent blame and physical abuse from family members directed at Delilah, Samson retaliates against his brother but suffers a beating in return.
In search of freedom, Samson steals the community's car and escapes with Delilah to Alice Springs, where they endure harsh conditions under a bridge. They temporarily stay with Gonzo, a homeless alcoholic. Delilah discovers her artwork is being sold in galleries for substantial sums but faces rejection when attempting to sell directly herself. Samson’s addiction intensifies; during one episode, he fails to notice when Delilah is abducted and assaulted by white youths. Overwhelmed by despair, Delilah starts sniffing petrol as well.
After both are intoxicated and Delilah is struck by a vehicle, Samson grieves deeply, believing she has died. Several weeks later, she returns from hospital accompanied by his brother to rescue him. Upon returning to their community, Samson faces punishment for stealing the car. To support his recovery from addiction, Delilah takes him to an isolated location for rehabilitation. His gradual improvement culminates in hearing his brother's ska music broadcast on local radio—a symbol of hope and renewal.
Cast
- Rowan McNamara as Samson
- Marissa Gibson as Delilah
- Mitjili Napanangka Gibson as Nana
- Scott Thornton as Gonzo
- Matthew Gibson as Samson's Brother
- Steven Brown as Drummer
- Gregwyn Gibson as Bass Player
- Noreen Robertson Nampijinpa as Fighting Woman
- Kenrick Martin as Wheelchair Boy
- Peter Bartlett as Storekeeper
Production
Under the direction of Warwick Thornton, who characterizes the film as a "survival love story," the project features lead roles portrayed by newcomers Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson.
Release
The film was presented at various festivals both within Australia and internationally, including the prestigious Cannes, the Adelaide Film Festival—where it secured the Audience Award—the Berlin Independent Film Festival, Around the World in 14 Films festival, and the St Tropez Film Festival.
Critical response
With 56 critiques counted, the film achieved a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes in 2009, with an average score of 7.8 out of 10. Reviewers commended it as "beautiful and heartrending," emphasizing its powerful performances and nuanced depiction of Australian life. On Metacritic, it earned a score of 75%, reflecting generally positive feedback.
Samson and Delilah was awarded five stars by both Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton on At The Movies, standing out as the sole film to receive this honor in 2009.
Craig Mathieson from SBS gave the director’s debut four out of five stars, highlighting its "intrinsic sweetness" and faith in love while acknowledging its uncompromising perspective on reality.
Accolades
The movie was showcased in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, where it earned the prestigious Caméra d'Or (Gold Camera Award), recognizing the best debut feature. Additionally, it won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Film in 2009 and received the Jury Grand Prix for Best Feature Film at the 2009 Rencontres internationales du cinéma des Antipodes (Antipodean Film Festival) held in France.
On 29 September 2009, Screen Australia revealed that this film had been selected as Australia's official submission for the Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
Awards
|-||IF Awards
|Best Sound | |
|-||Palm Springs International Film Festival
|John Schlesinger Award – Honorable Mention |Warwick Thornton |
|}
Box office
Samson and Delilah achieved a gross revenue of at the Australian box office.
See also
- Cinema of Australia
- List of submissions to the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Australian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film