Beneath the rich blue of the ocean, golden shimmers of sunlight reveal a pale death.
Marine biologist Abby (Mia Wasikowska) is scuba diving, floating above a coral reef that she has dedicated her life to protecting. Once upon a time, these reefs were full of life. Now, it is white, brittle, and dying. It’s a reminder of one of the wonders the planet is losing, and a strong opening for the new Australian drama feature, ‘Blueback’.
The film is the latest adaptation of the work of Australian literary icon Tim Winton, following ‘Dirt Music’ and the Simon Birmingham-directed ‘Breath’. Based on his 1997 children’s novella, the author co-writes the film with director Robert Connolly, the director of the fantastic Australian thriller, 'The Dry'. Together, the duo has created a radical reworking of the source material but kept its core message about environmental conservation.
The first big change is the gender-swapped lead character of Abby, played at different ages by actresses Ariel Donoghue, Ilsa Fogg, and Mia Wasikowska. It is the latter’s adult Abby that much of the film is framed around, returning home after her activist mother Dora (Liz Alexander and Radha Mitchell) suffers a stroke, prompting flashbacks to her first battle to protect the environment against overfishing in her West Australian coastal hometown.
It's in these scenes from Abby’s youth where the film comes to life. While much of the cast is restrained, Radha Mitchell is fiery and passionate as the younger Dora, while Eric Bana’s small role as the Ocker fisherman Macka leaves a big impression. But it is underwater where ‘Blueback’ is breathtaking.
The earlier footage of a dying reef is contrasted with one that is vibrant and full of life, captured by underwater cinematographer Rick Rifici. Bursting with the rich colour of the coral reef and its inhabitants, and the warm blue of the ocean, the footage would surely make Jacques Cousteau weep with joy. The magic is heightened by Nigel Westlake’s score, resembling the swelling of a Disney musical. However, the star is the titular blue groper. Constructed by Melbourne company Creature Technology, the puppet is an incredible feat of design and performance, resembling the real thing without any of the uncanny valley effects that usually drag productions down. The puppeteers have definitely closely studied the creatures and imbue it with the personality of a Golden Retriever.
Unfortunately, the sections above water are shallow. Stories of communities fighting against corporate greed are nothing new in Australian cinema, providing the backbone for everything from the 2020 film ‘Rams’ to seminal TV series ‘Round The Twist’, and it appears here, too. The corporate villain is restrained compared to Mayor Gribble in the latter, but the actions of big business don’t stir as much emotion as the playful scenes with Blueback, which is a shame since the planet’s survival is currently at a critical point. Every day there are news stories about the damage committed in the name of profit, but here it seems banal and would have been better suited shrinking its focus on Abby and Blueback and showing humanity's responsibility to protect the environment.
While the story of ‘Blueback’ isn’t groundbreaking, its message is admirable. It’s unlikely to spur people to action and save our ocean, but its gorgeous underwater scenes are a reminder of what is being fought for, and that surely makes this film worthwhile.
★★★☆☆
‘Blueback’ is in cinemas now.
