Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Writer-director: Imogen Thomas, Umbrella Entertainment.
Cast: Rhae-Kye Waites, Maurial Spearm, Wayne Blair, Georgia Blizzard, Mary Waites, Rob Carlton, Letisha Boney, Rodney McHughes, Lindsay Waites.
Balanced and healthy in social realism, Emu Runner emphasises the importance of country, community and storytelling. This debut feature opens one’s heart and mind.
In a distinctive Australian story of love and loss, Gem Daniels (Waites), is a nine-year-old Indigenous girl, who lives in a remote Australian town who forms a very special bond with a wild emu.
We see Gem happy with her mother Darlene (Spearm). However, following Darlene’s sudden death, her family is left to mourn and try to heal. As a coping mechanism with her mother’s unexpected death, Gem finds solace in the company of a wild emu.
Innocently she gets attached to her mother’s traditional totem animal. This compulsive connection to the emu leads her down a troubled path as she feeds it her school lunches and begins to steal extra food for it. Gem even skips school to spend more time with the emu.
These actions lead to a series of misunderstandings. The new social worker in town, Heidi (Blizzard, Thor: Ragnarok) takes notice and is convinced Gem’s family is failing to look after her. It also involves local cop, Stan (Carlton) who means well.
Gem’s father’s commitment to his family does not waver, despite some prejudices. Jay Jay (Blair, The Sapphires) attempts to keep everyone together with help from grandma Daphne (Mary Waites), but Gem’s grief alienates her from them and her
15-year-old sister, Valerie (Letisha Boney) and 17-year-old brother, Ecka (Rodney McHughes).
Being in the middle of nowhere in Brewarinna, Gem needs to escape from her pain, but where can she go. Expressive and sensitive, the film has many symbolic meanings within Indigenous culture. It represents guidance, protection, direction and, a most commonly recognised trait, justice.
The film’s biggest strength is its message and ability to carry a fable for the lives of Indigenous people. It educates you well on the oldest culture in the world.
