I seriously
do not watch enough in the way of Australian films. Off the top of my head I
can only count off about three or four. And yes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
is one of them. Samson and Delilah is a wonderful film that serves a dual
purpose. I have no doubt that one of the aims of the film is to portray the
plight of the aborigines in Australia today, and it is thought provoking in
this sense alone. But it also asks a question. Does love really conquer all?
Can love really help you overcome everything? How far can one go for one’s
other half, if it’s the real thing?
Samson and
Delilah are two young aborigines living in a tiny desert community in modern
day Australia. Delilah and her Nan make a meagre living selling the traditional
pictures they painstakingly paint every day. Samson, one of their neighbours
who lives with his brother and a bunch of other young lads, is basically
unemployed. Despite the impossibility of their situation and all Delilah’s
resistance, slowly, love blossoms between them. This turns out to be a blessing
when a tragedy that hits very close to home, pushes the young couple onto the
road. Even when they’re together, living on the streets is tough and survival
is a battle they have to fight daily. Their love sustains them at first. But
how long can it sustain them for? Will it help Samson and Delilah to their own happy
ending, or does even the greatest love have its limits?
Ok, so
first of all, a heads up. Director Warwick Gibson does several things with this
storyline to make the film completely original and as distant from clichés as
possible. And one of those things is minimal, and I mean minimal dialogue. Now
as you probably know by now, I am quite a fan of minimal dialogue. I like it
because it enables the transmission of emotion in what I feel is a more sincere
way. I mean, yes, with emotions you often “talk it out” or something, but the
essence, the real thing you feel. You don’t necessarily “say”. This is why it’s
wonderful to watch the love between Samson and Delilah develop, with mutual
shows of affection and almost no words at all. It’s like those warm, cuddly
moments in a relationship where words can’t quite describe what you’re feeling.
And if the words aren’t good enough, why bother using them?
Then of
course there is the matter of the testing of Samson and Delilah’s love. Now the
beauty of this part of the storyline is that everything that happens is
totally, completely, and heart-rendingly realistic. And it speaks to the
ability of the director that this goes for the good things in the film and the
bad. You might argue that what happens in the film is only one of many
possibilities, but hey, isn’t that kinda what life is anyway? Exactly.
And the
other good thing is that even though the fact that Delilah and her Nan make
traditional pictures that may well have once been considered priceless to
scratch out a very meagre living is undoubtedly meant as a social commentary,
it is not “in your face”. It is there for you to think about. But this film is,
undoubtedly about love.
In short,
don’t let the lack of dialogue scare you off. This little number has SO much to
offer I am positive you could see past the silence and really enjoy the film.
And heck, who knows, it may well become your introduction to minimalist films.
Believe me, this would not be a bad thing… J
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