"Jasper Jones" as a Window into Australia’s Aboriginal history

Lucy Dalziel

doi:10.5130/nesais.v5i1.1575

Abstract

Jasper Jones (2017) is an Australian film adaptation of Craig Silvey’s 2009 novel of the same name. The film is directed by Arrernte woman Rachel Perkins, who founded Blackfella Films in 1992 and has since been heading the initiative to include more Indigenous representation on screen. With an Aboriginal character, Jasper Jones, at the forefront of the story, the film presents a window into the lives of Aboriginal people living in 1960’s white Australia.

Highlights

The film is set in the small town of Corrigan in Western Australia during 1969
The story follows 13-year-old Charlie Bucktin, who learns about the murder of Laura Wishart one night when Jasper Jones visits his window and takes him to the crime scene
Reminiscent of the commonly learned white version of Australia’s history, and echoing the notion of disremembering Aborigines. van Nerveen supports this observation, adding that using ‘place as a character’ isn’t presented strongly in the film in order to show the lack of respect given to Jasper, and contextually, to Aboriginality as a whole (2017, p. 8)

Summary

Introduction

The film is set in the small town of Corrigan in Western Australia during 1969. Like most small towns during the 60s, it’s a tight-knit group of white elitists who remain set in their prejudiced ways, and with Jasper being the only Aboriginal resident in town he is most often the subject of their racism and bigotry.

Results

Conclusion