Jedda (The Chauvel Collection) (1955)

Director: Charles Chauvel Starring: Ngarla Kunoth, Robert Tudawali, Betty Suttor Genres: Drama Classics, Australian, Action-Adventure, Romantic Drama Origin: Australia Certificate: G Languages: English Running Time: 87 min

synopsis

On a lonely cattle station in the Northern territory, Sara McMann (Betty Suttor) adopts an orphaned aboriginal baby in place of her own baby who has died the day before. Sara names the baby Jedda (Ngarla Kunoth) after a wild bird, and raises her as a white child, forbidding her to have contact with the 'blacks' who work on the station. Years pass and Jedda, a confused teenage girl, is drawn to Aboriginal culture, but is restrained by her upbringing.

Jedda is mesmerised and then kidnapped by Marbuck (Robert Tudawali), a 'wild black' wanted by police. a life and death chase follows with Marbuck becoming increasingly insane. The drama is played out against the spectacular landscape of Australia's remote north.

Jedda was Charles Chauvel's last feature film and the first to star real Aboriginal actors, here given billing over the white players. The film was the first shot in colour by an Australian company.

Jedda was, and still is, emotionally intense and very beautiful. It raises issues that remain poignant today. At the time of its release in 1955, it revealed a land and people largely unknown to the world - and to most Australians. Although at odds with the subject matter from the norm of the day, Jedda proved a commercial and critical success. Another Charles Chauvel classic.