Walkabout

Released 1971
Stars Jenny Agutter, Lucien John, David Gumpilil
Directed by Nicolas Roeg

Originally distributed in 1971, Walkabout has become director Nicolas Roeg's "lost work". The film, which had five minutes of Jenny Agutter's frontal nudity cut from its original U.S. release, was never transferred to video. As a result, this is the first opportunity for the under- 30 crowd to experience the film, and the first chance for North American movie-goers of any age to see the entire, uncensored version. (Incidentally, by today's standards, the nude scenes of Agutter wouldn't earn anything more sensational than an "R".)

Walkabout is the story of two children -- a teenage girl (Agutter) and her 7-year old brother (Roeg's real-life son, Lucien John) -- stranded in the Australian wilderness. They become trapped there when their father drives them out in the middle of nowhere, lights the car on fire, then shoots himself in the head. Lost and alone, the two must attempt to find their way back to civilization. Just when their provisions have run out, an Aboriginal man-child (David Gumpilil) finds them and guides them through the bush. He's on his "walkabout" -- a several months' journey across Australia where he must survive off the land -- but the end of his odyssey is something that neither he nor his two white charges could have anticipated.

Summary by James Berardinelli