The Tracker Analysis

The Tracker: A First Time Viewing Review Across acres of harsh, barren land in “somewhere in Australia”, 4 contrasting characters are on the verge of despair (except the tracker himself) attempt to apprehend an Aboriginal man who allegedly murdered a white woman. Rolf De Heer’s haunting film tackles the controversial issue of the complicated relationship between Aboriginals and white men during earlier times. The 4 characters: the tracker (David Gulpilil), the fanatic (Gary Sweet), the new guy (Damon Gameau) & the veteran (Grant Page) interact with each other in a queer manner; very few words are ever spoken between them but the silence between them highlights their differences. The tracker (Gulpilil) is essential to not only the
The border between civilised and savage are blurred in ‘The Tracker’ when the fanatic is full of the ideas that he is superior over Aboriginals because he is ‘white’ and murders innocent people relentlessly. The fanatic’s maddening tone of superiority above Aboriginals is contrasted with the follower’s sudden courageous act of defiance, which adds to the film’s message that ‘all men choose the path they
The soundtracks, like the paintings, form a connection to Aboriginal Dream Time stories which also implemented songs in the story telling. Some of the soundtrack is also sung in an Aboriginal dialect which further enhances the impression that the movie is also somehow part of Aboriginal history. The final scene of the tracker riding off into the sunset would often be the most memorable to viewers as not only was it the movie’s parting scene but it was a symbol for hope. It was a powerful scene which gave viewers the concept that there would always be a new day in the end. The follower (who is on horseback) is situated in the foreground as he gazes towards the tracker whom is swiftly exiting the scene and viewer’s eyes are also unconsciously focused on the tracker which reveals how the tracker truly is the protagonist of the