Tracey Moffatt's Night Cries is a horrifying short film that exposes a sombre Australian story. Obviously a sequel to Charles Chauvel's "Jedda"(1955), an older Aboriginal 'Jedda' takes care of her dying white (step mother). Jimmy Little appears at the beginning, middle and end of the film - pivotal points in the narrative. Like the main Aborignial woman, Little represents the assimilation process that changed the Aboriginal people. The artificial studio setting is unique compared to much of Australian cinema which is dominated by rural outback imagery. The mountain backdrop echoes the landscape viewed from Jedda's house in "Jedda" (1955), and also the paintings of Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjira - another example of an Aboriginie changed by the assimilation process. His watercolour works were completely different to the traditional dot paintings. Overall Moffatt has created a moving and haunting film, despite its short length.
6 Reviews
really bad
Stumpy-66 May 2001
It's a well made film, but it's crap. I had to see this film for my intro class at the College of Santa Fe. It really is horrible...plot implies that this daughter is taking care of her helpless mother, but we never know for sure because there's no dialogue or anything that definitely shows this is true. It has random shots of Jimmy Little singing (supposedly mocking the daughter's situation), which really suck.
Middle-aged Aboriginal woman cares for her dying white mother in the desolate Australian Outback.
Ddubs22 February 2001
An immaculate short film depicting (the aftermath of?) Australia's stolen generation. The symbolism in Night Cries is unparalleled by any Australian film (short or full length) I've seen. Tracy Moffat also deserves the highest praise for her brilliant use of sound and imagery. Unfortunately, anyone outside of Australia will have a very hard (impossible) time seeing this movie, but if you're ever in Australia see this film.
The mother...Why is this difficult to see?
andrewscate24 June 2023
Metaphor and realism enmeshed Night Cries was shown in my university course to discuss the relationship and unresolved issues a lot of people have with their mothers. The mother in Hollywood films and tv series, the homemaker, the shopper, the department store user, the controller, the cleaner, the sexless mother in Leave it to Beaver. All characters distant from the Australian outback and most people's lives. The unresolved and the loss is physical experience. The child now the carer becomes almost her mother for her mother. We don't know whether the white woman adopted her daughter or had a child with an Aboriginal man and this uncertainty leaves the viewer with questions about society, the law, skin groups, and family ties. Isolation becomes the cliche for the outback as well as mother-daughter relations. Expectations isolate a child. Attachments and trust building are isolated through social expectations. Left grieving, is death too late to cry and to question and talk?
Sound on a Set creates surreal and haunting atmosphere
Benzo31 March 1999
An aboriginal girl's plight (and burden) to take care of her ailing and almost incapacitated mother. The elements to create a realistic haunting atmosphere include a wide array of symbolic soundscapes matched with an entirely studio-based setting, decorated with surreal and horrifying blues and oranges.
The film was used in my "filmmaking" class (@ TEMPLE UNIVERSITY) to illustrate sound editing and how it can change the entire makeup of a film, defining its tone and meaning.
A great example indeed.
The film was used in my "filmmaking" class (@ TEMPLE UNIVERSITY) to illustrate sound editing and how it can change the entire makeup of a film, defining its tone and meaning.
A great example indeed.
Aussie avant-Gard...
philipadams_15 May 2005
We had to watch this in uni for aboriginal spirituality.
It is an interesting film which, upon first viewing, can leave the viewer not knowing what they have just seen- as is always the case with art movies such as these.
However upon discussion and thinking about it the meaning of the film becomes clear(er).
Aside from interpretations and what not, this short film does have very stylish looking sets and editing for both the visuals and sound.
I doubt whether this would be easily available to punters and is probably only available through special sources, but if you ever get the chance to see it by all means do.
It is an interesting film which, upon first viewing, can leave the viewer not knowing what they have just seen- as is always the case with art movies such as these.
However upon discussion and thinking about it the meaning of the film becomes clear(er).
Aside from interpretations and what not, this short film does have very stylish looking sets and editing for both the visuals and sound.
I doubt whether this would be easily available to punters and is probably only available through special sources, but if you ever get the chance to see it by all means do.
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