Umbrella releases The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith -

[El_Fez]

Fred Schepisi's internationally acclaimed masterpiece, based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, is the shocking tale of an indigenous man driven to madness and revenge. Jimmie Blacksmith (Tommy Lewis) is a young Aboriginal half-caste raised in central NSW at the turn-of-the-century, a boy initiated by his tribe but also educated by a stern Methodist minister (Jack Thompson). Looking to gain respectability in European society, Jimmy finds a white bride while performing back-breaking work on local farms, but cannot escape his skin colour, suffering ongoing racism and oppression. Discovering that he may not be the father of his wife's child, and fired without pay, Jimmy explodes in a fury of violent revenge and escapes into the bush with his brother Mort, cutting a bloody path of retribution upon the society that has forsaken him. In 1901, the year Australian democracy is born, Jimmy Blacksmith finally faces his fate, and with it the fate of his people.

- Play feature with introduction by Fred Schepisi
- A Conversation with director, Fred Schepisi & cinematographer, Ian Baker (66 mins)
- Melbourne Premiere from Willesee at Seven, June 1978 (7 mins)
- CELLULOID GYPSIES: Making Jimmie Blacksmith - Interviews with key cast and crew, including director, Fred Schepisi and actor, Tommy Lewis
- Interview with Tommy Lewis (26 mins)
- Audio Commentary with Fred Schepisi
- Q& A session with Fred Schepisi and actor, Geoffrey Rush at MIFF(Melbourne International Film Festival) 2008 (34 mins)
- Making Us Blacksmiths - Documentary on the casting of Aboriginal lead actors, Tommy Lewis and Freddy Reynolds
- Stills Gallery
- Theatrical Trailer

The Chant Of Jimmie Blacksmith Trailer - YouTube

Great news! Another Video Nasty now (well, soon) available! I've been wondering about this one for a while now, ever since seeing the trailer. Yeah - have to pick this one up!