The Tracker (2002) FotW #333

[Cocoa]

Film of the Week #333: The Tracker (2002)



Summary:
It's 1922; somewhere in Australia. When a Native Australian man is accused of murdering a white woman, three white men (The Fanatic, The Follower and The Veteran) are given the mission of capturing him with the help of an experienced Native Australian (The Tracker). So they start their quest in the outback, not knowing that their inner wrestles against and for racism will be more dangerous that the actual hunting for the accused.

#359 on 500<400, with 265 checks.
Nominated by 72aicm and blocho.
On IMDb
On iCM

From the 500<400 results

#359(NEW) The Tracker (2002)

Directed by: Rolf de Heer
(305.69 Pts, 6 Votes) , Top 1–10–50: 0–0–4
History: 359←548←660←1743←1552←NA←NA

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ICheckMovies: 252 Checks , 25 Favourites , 2 Official lists

List of Voters:

flaiky (15)
72allinncallme (28)
Daviddoes (39)
vortexsurfer (47)
jlfitz (110)
xianjiro (115)

This movie fits the current Western Challenge.



Here is a schedule of all the FotWs.

[blocho]

I thought I was going to see a pretty standard outback manhunt movie, like I saw in Sweet Country and The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. But it quickly became apparent that the filmmakers had something more mythic and off-kilter in mind. For one thing, the score is mostly modern music (electric instruments) that obliquely comments on the narrative. Scenes of violence are represented by still images of paintings rather than moving pictures. And none of the characters have names.

With the exception of the score, I think all those decisions worked. And along with a strong script and acting, the result is a very compelling story.

Also, it was cool to see Grant Page, who I remember from the stunt half of Stunt-Rock.

[weirdboy]

Anyone here seen The Nightingale?

When I saw it in the theater, it made me think of this movie (The Tracker) as there are similar characters and situations and they are both kind of over the top with the violence in some scenes. In fact in some ways it almost feels like some sort of homage to Rolf de Heer's film.

[weirdboy]

So it's the end of the week. Am I really the only person here besides blocho who has seen this film? That seems highly unlikely.

[joachimt]

Seen it six years ago. Don't remember enough to comment. 7/10

[Cocoa]

I didn't particularity care for it. The music bugged me because it wasn't consistent. Sometimes it was simply instrumental and other times it was really wordy which took me out of the element of this film. It felt like two different movies stitched together. The drawings used to avoid filming certain scenes is a weird technique that I don't think significantly improve or hurt the film. I wasn't a fan of some of the actions a few of the characters decided to do throughout the film.

[Lammetje]

Just watched it, thought it was alright. I had the same problem with the music as Cocoa though, and I could have done without the drawings.

[Armoreska]

likable film
8.5/10
All men choose the path they walk - an untimely song lyric for 2020.
And other song asking for equality of opportunity when it's time to get closer to equality of outcome.