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Walkabout
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Walkabout

1971
Drama
Adventure
1h 40m
Two young children are stranded in the Australian outback and are forced to cope on their own. (imdb)
Directed by:
Nicolas Roeg Nicolas Roeg
Written by:
Edward Bond James Vance Marshall
+1 more
Starring:
David Gulpilil David Gulpilil Jenny Agutter Jenny Agutter John Meillon John Meillon Luc Roeg Robert McDarra Peter Carver
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Genres:
Drama, Adventure
Countries:
Australia, UK
Languages:
English, French, Czech, Aboriginal
imdb More information at IMDb
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Walkabout

1971
Drama
Adventure
1h 40m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 69.6% from 1216 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 15 Mar 2018
73
44th
Having just come from seeing "Logan's Run" and Jenny Agutter in some skimpy clothes, I checked out "Walkabout" in the hopes that Agutter would completely disrobe in this one. Well, she did, and it wasn't disappointing. Oh, and there's an aboriginie in there somewhere and some rocks and sand.
Rated 15 Mar 2018
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 26 Jul 2008
5
91st
An excellent movie about the unassuming malevolence of nature and the breakdown of communication. It's a slow film, but not a boring one; each and every shot has a purpose, establishing the banality and bleakness of the desert and the struggle of the main characters to reestablish themselves in civilization. The desert photography is among the best color cinematography ever; Roeg finds beauty in the most barren and brutal of environments.
Rated 26 Jul 2008
kojilessKojiless
Rated 10 Oct 2017
50
55th
A lesson in how sufficient panoramic establishing shots of Australia's natural beauty can magically change any short film about an underage blonde schoolgirl skinny dipping into an iconic 70s cinema classic.
Rated 10 Oct 2017
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 27 Jul 2012
70
53rd
If this was me stranded in the outback the movie would be over in 10 minutes, i'd be eaten by ants while bitching about the heat *SMASH CUT TO BLACK
Rated 27 Jul 2012
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 27 Mar 2008
92
97th
I went in afraid it would be boring, but while it's very slow it has a captivating air to it. It's a very contemplative film, using marvelous editing to contrast different attitudes towards life and nature. The film as a whole showcases both the harshness of these as well as the glimmers of energy and hope that make life worth living and possible. Only once it's over is it clear how pervasive these themes are throughout the film.
Rated 27 Mar 2008
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 25 Feb 2016
84
89th
Immensely thought-provoking and evocative story about nature, culture and coming of age. Despite some grand ambitions it successfully avoids feeling pretentious or sentimental or vague or preachy. Kinda impressive really. It's aesthetically gorgeous and 100% believable in terms of performances. Some of the deconstructionist avant-gardeisms are a bit dated though.
Rated 25 Feb 2016
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 04 Jun 2013
68
48th
It's iconic filmmaking, sure, so it's so disappointing that it shows its ideological age. As a cultural abstraction, it's the kind of movie George Harrison and Hal Ashby would have bankrolled for Godard, and not in the good way: its weighty dialogue, pushy symbolism, and overlength all beg you not to think it's trying too hard. It's unfortunate that it is.
Rated 04 Jun 2013
thehynesthehynes
Rated 26 Aug 2014
56
48th
really enjoyed this as a boy, which might have had quite a lot to do with having the hots for Jenny Agutter.Rewatching as an adult & it's very exploitative of a 16 year old girl.Found the weird little vignettes on sex & attraction somewhat baffling & the white hunters one heavy handed symbolism in the extreme (way way above & beyond that which the film already has) Not sure what to make of it now to be honest. It's pervy, it's well shot and it's a bit weird.
Rated 26 Aug 2014
anilscnanilscn
Rated 15 Sep 2019
50
48th
Yuhhhhhhhhhhhhh.. Overrated oğlu overrated yine bi deli kuyuya taş atmış hikayesi misali. Bu kadar amatör (Oyunculuklar ve edit aşaması) ve başlangıcı bu kadar aptalca bir film için verilen şu puanlar beni kahrediyor.
Rated 15 Sep 2019
joojooJooJoo
Rated 09 Jan 2010
3
31st
Roeg's cinematography is working overtime to make up for some dated effects and overly-symbolic gestures. It doesn't help that this journey is initiated by something completely ridiculous, with only a few facts given later to clarify. I really don't buy the theories people come up with for that. Acting goes from interesting (David Gulpilil in a familiar and much appreciated Aborigine role), to tolerable (young girl), to bland/annoying (young boy). I am unimpressed.
Rated 09 Jan 2010
nobambanobamba
Rated 10 Jan 2021
70
76th
I didn't expect an allegory with cuts to contrast noble savage and western life, with a final setting of a dead mining town. I didn't realize aborigines put whole animals on a fire to cook. Once they run into the boy there isn't much survival. The kids' outfits are extremely clean and they basically settle down on the farm. They finally make their way out of the wilderness and the guy doesn't wonder? Fav scene: Agutter's general attempts to maintain her lifestyle by washing and hanging clothes.
Rated 10 Jan 2021
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 11 May 2010
9
90th
A great film. When the plot begins to unfold in its second half, I found it to be lacking the evocative images and sense of immediate threat that pervaded the film shortly before. The film picks up moments later and although Roeg tosses the issue of culture clash into the ring, I think one has to derive a greater meaning from it. Something à la "home is where you make of it", but that's me, you make of it what you will. Essential viewing.
Rated 11 May 2010
kahKAH
Rated 10 Jul 2009
4
93rd
.
Rated 10 Jul 2009
cowmanCowman
Rated 02 Jul 2014
65
40th
The annoying kid ruined it for me. Would be very good if the girl made her journey alone.
Rated 02 Jul 2014
spikycactusSpikyCactus
Rated 07 Aug 2013
60
20th
Top badass moment? I know it's a puerile, creepy and incredibly immature comment, which I wholeheartedly apologise for right now, but Jenny Agutter nude? Learning the straw in the muddy puddle trick was pretty cool too; I'm just not sure I'd trust it to work in lowland England; too much cow piss. No cats, chainsaws or decapitations.
Rated 07 Aug 2013
moncliviemonclivie
Rated 13 Jan 2019
65
29th
I wasn't bored at all, but it's clearly a poem and just not my kind of poetry.
Rated 13 Jan 2019
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 09 Sep 2012
4
35th
Oh god child acting why. Doesn't have much to say but it looks pretty enough and has a great nude scene which almost justifies its existence in and of itself. Roeg is once again not impressive, I struggle to find what people see in him, just seems like a guy with a keen sense of photography but very little story telling abilities.
Rated 09 Sep 2012
amerigoamerigo
Rated 20 Mar 2020
79
61st
Tina Belcher presents Butts... in the Outback!
Rated 20 Mar 2020
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 30 Jan 2013
70
70th
The story starts off very confusingly, a pretense for the children being stranded in the outback. The girl (Jenny Agutter) is sweet and refined and attempts to guide her younger brother back to civilization. Her positive attitude is refreshing throughout. Thankfully they are found by a young aboriginal boy and are saved. He feeds them and takes them to water and civilization. His fate is particularly puzzling, like the beginning of this movie. Some quite beautiful scenery and landscapes.
Rated 30 Jan 2013
icarusIcarus
Rated 10 Sep 2016
91
91st
Beautiful images, of course, but I really loved the sound, the framing, and the rhythmic editing that Roeg brings to the film. It all combines to create a disorienting atmosphere that takes us out of our comfort zones and into this strange, primal world. That Roeg manages to pack in as much psychological depth as he does is astounding with the limited dialogue. It points to the power of the images and how they're arranged. Great film.
Rated 10 Sep 2016
rufamRufam
Rated 13 Mar 2016
65
42nd
"Walkabout" is a treat when the plot gives in to Roeg's beautiful, associative visuals. Stripped of its director, it would be a decent, but pretty conventional course in the superiority of the Noble Savage over industrilized society slash conventional coming-of-age story. It doesn't help that Agutter, the lead of the film, does little else than looking pretty and tanned.
Rated 13 Mar 2016
closefriendCloseFriend
Rated 16 Jan 2011
70
51st
Well, it's going to be a while before I eat meat again.
Rated 16 Jan 2011
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 04 Aug 2011
86
73rd
Some fascinating editing choices and juxtapositions going on here. A mesmerizing visual poem that begs to be rewatched.
Rated 04 Aug 2011
yesistastyyesistasty
Rated 19 Mar 2024
93
80th
Stupendous imagery. Innovative and expressive photography and editing. Begs to be seen on the largest screen possible. Maybe the obvious comparisons between modern life and the "state of nature" are trite, but the imagery provides a complexity that the story lacks. I felt I was watching a recreation of basic humanity, a stripping away of all the psychological and physical barriers our civilization has built around us. Little kid was annoying.
Rated 19 Mar 2024
suture_selfSuture Self
Rated 02 Dec 2011
6
54th
I guess I'm not much of a Roeg fan.
Rated 02 Dec 2011
panzerwolfpanzerwolf
Rated 31 Dec 2022
72
63rd
A strange journey through not only the outback but also through mind and memories, the things that stick with us, the stuff that matters. Beautiful shots here and a strange cacophony of the movie having no real direction, but just the journey. Sometimes it felt like that random things were just put together because they seemed weird enough. I think this movie is an acquired taste and I wasn't really emotionally invested in it apart from the young man the two other characters meet.
Rated 31 Dec 2022
neonmanNeonman
Rated 05 Feb 2014
84
77th
Within the first 5 minutes, you can tell this film isn't subtle about its messages and how it gets them across. But it still engrosses because of how remarkably constructed it is, especially during any of its montage sequences. The main narrative is rather strange and disconnected, and pretty funny too as it shows these ultra-Brits trying to keep up appearances in life-threatening dire situations. Great film, but makes me feel really hot and burnt.
Rated 05 Feb 2014
sebbysebby
Rated 07 Dec 2011
80
91st
Be forewarned, there is some intense animal killing in the film. Not for the faint of heart. All in all, it's one of Roeg's best. Simultaneously unsettling to the core and breathtakingly beautiful.
Rated 07 Dec 2011
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 25 Aug 2011
80
37th
Good until the final third where it falls apart.
Rated 25 Aug 2011
theyshoot07theyshoot07
Rated 02 Mar 2008
69
50th
# 611
Rated 02 Mar 2008
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 29 Mar 2020
19
10th
I suffered a failure to communicate.
Rated 29 Mar 2020
king_zazvorking zazvor
Rated 15 Mar 2020
90
93rd
Uneven and inconsistent, a hodepodge of techniques resulting in some truly beautiful moments. Seems to separate itself from a literary way of communicating, and ultimately there isn't much of a "story."
Rated 15 Mar 2020
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 27 Jun 2014
90
89th
I really enjoyed this, especially the first half, which is truly wacked-out and bizarre in the most exciting ways. It does get gradually less weird, and therefore less interesting as it goes along, but that first blast of crazy is like a bell that rings in your ears throughout. I loved how the little white kid just completely rolls with the situation without batting an eye, and also how obsessed Roeg is with Jenny Agutter's legs because can you blame him? Wow.
Rated 27 Jun 2014
pratchett3Pratchett3
Rated 07 Dec 2020
8
71st
the girl's skirt in this was too short, it was extremely distracting. a lot of cool weird abstract shots of Australian landscape and wildlife. the story itself is a little slow but the ending hits you hard.
Rated 07 Dec 2020
johnnydarkjohnnydark
Rated 17 Dec 2010
98
80th
A film that goes beyond being just a movie... makes you think, wonder, Dream.... long after you've seen it.
Rated 17 Dec 2010
huahHuah
Rated 18 Jun 2012
68
29th
Despite it's fractured storyline and uninteresting main characters, there's a sense of freedom that Roeg displays as a mimetic ode to the late 1960's spirit. A symbolic merging of the modern and immemorial natural worlds; embracing the primordial desire for a simple nd spiritual life. Most noteworthy are the blisteringly stunning visuals and editing, which seems as though is much more concerned about documenting the hallucinogenic beauty of the Australian Outback.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
cerclerougeCercle_Rouge
Rated 09 May 2020
80
87th
Beautifully and innovatively shot. Portrayal of the Aboriginal character is sympathetic; there's a strong sense of the 'noble savage' to the whole film, though Aboriginal culture is also portrayed as sophisticated and adaptable.
Rated 09 May 2020
theyshoot08theyshoot08
Rated 19 Dec 2008
68
36th
648
Rated 19 Dec 2008
nobletNoblet
Rated 16 Feb 2016
79
67th
Absolutely stunning pictures, occasionally interrupted by some awkward and unsettling scenes.
Rated 16 Feb 2016
darrenDarren
Rated 18 Jun 2019
67
41st
First half is a good weird movie. The second half is hard to get through. Another case of a movie not not being racist
Rated 18 Jun 2019
hsncrspywlhsncrspywl
Rated 29 Mar 2015
81
67th
Stunning imagery and a story much more about basic human connection than anything to do with noble savagery which I appreciated. The shot of the camels or the lightning storm... just amazing. Real moments of wonder and terror, with excellent cross-cutting sequences giving the film an air of memory and dream - of past lives. There is a shitton of partial nudity though and to be honest it goes past the point of "coming-of-age" story into "teenage butts" thanks Nic!
Rated 29 Mar 2015
stainStain
Rated 29 Mar 2007
90
86th
Very good adventure story with almost no violence. Plus it features Jenny Agutter naked :-)
Rated 29 Mar 2007
michaelhashMichaelhash
Rated 01 Nov 2012
89
46th
88.500
Rated 01 Nov 2012
equanimityEquanimity
Rated 08 Jun 2021
70
74th
Engaging journey with beautiful shots. Enjoyed the performances. Unfortunately the film has aged poorly - the weather balloon crew scene, the shots of the girl's skirt, and worst of all the hunting scenes, made strange by frantic editing, and which personally reminded me of Skippy playing the drums. Worth watching, but I'd recommend Tracks (2013) in the first instance to someone who hasn't seen either film.
Rated 08 Jun 2021
mrtdlgcmrt.dlgc
Rated 17 Sep 2023
25
11th
Beautiful imagery, wasted with a meaningless storyline.
Rated 17 Sep 2023
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 31 Oct 2013
71
39th
A movie that throws off the shackles of civilization. The call of the wild deals out beauty and savagery in equal measure.
Rated 31 Oct 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 23 Mar 2014
85
83rd
85.000
Rated 23 Mar 2014
keebsgsKeebsGS
Rated 16 Dec 2014
89
50th
The first time I saw this film I hated it - probably because I didn't understand it - but, after a second, third, and now fourth time viewing the film I find it rather hypnotizing. The juxtaposition between city and outback, savage and civilized create speculation on the very nature of life and the ways we can communicate. I think this film is even more relevant now in a society where we have even more modes of communication. Walkabout comes highly recommended!
Rated 16 Dec 2014
afx237viafx237vi
Rated 17 Apr 2012
70
69th
Partly a coming-of-age story with the focus on burgeoning sexuality, partly a meditation on the cavernous disconnect between the modern and natural worlds. Several scenes illustrate an innate yearning for a simpler, more primal way of living, and this is reinforced by the innovative editing, which constantly illustrates the conflicts and the similarities between the two worlds.
Rated 17 Apr 2012
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 17 Dec 2010
2
21st
Less than meets the eye. Striking visuals and hallucinogenic editing can't save this from its tedious one-note pace. It's beautiful, but ultimately a bit thin and repetitive.
Rated 17 Dec 2010
moody_mehdimoody mehdi
Rated 13 Oct 2012
96
89th
A lack of communication between modernity and ancient traditions...is a human more free when he is stripped of the trappings 'modernity' puts on him ? can ancient rites survive in a world engulfed by the fumes of capitalism from all sides, which reduce existence to a dependence on branded security ? can the gap between the language of nature and the forced reality of 'modern beings' be bridged ? A film which raises these pressing questions. An experience. A walkabout for the audience !
Rated 13 Oct 2012
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 10 Feb 2019
60
35th
Between this and Picnic at Hanging Rock, I've seen a lot of beautiful Australia. This coming-of-age film hits you over the head with its environmental message, but it's still a fascinating character study of the "civilized" strangers meeting the "savage" tribesman.
Rated 10 Feb 2019
hulothulot
Rated 22 Feb 2013
100
96th
watched: 2013, 2014, 2018
Rated 22 Feb 2013
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
70
67th
Slow, but engrossing. Well worth your time if you can hunt it out.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 05 Jan 2014
6
83rd
an impressionistic portrait of the australian outback, and also the parallels (and perpendiculars?) between the wild and civilisation. a very, very good movie that eludes greatness because it tends to meander around pointlessly near the end, and also is perhaps a touch romanticised. captivating as well as gently philosophical.
Rated 05 Jan 2014
kasperlKasperL
Rated 14 Feb 2024
70
65th
Excellent cinematography by Roeg but patience and focus is required.
Rated 14 Feb 2024
hisblobhisblob
Rated 08 Feb 2017
96
96th
maximum Australia
Rated 08 Feb 2017
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 24 Nov 2018
97
96th
Em honra de Nicolas Roeg (1928 - 2018). Nos anos 70 Roeg conseguiu o feito de ter dez anos seguidos de obras-primas em gêneros díspares, em maior em menor grau permeados pelo unheimlich, o inquietante que nos fala Freud, a jornada que aqui se perpetua tem exatamente o tom de tudo que nos inquieta através das mortes literais e simbólicas que vemos pelo caminho das personagens. Obra-prima, sem dúvida. BlurayRip no MakingOff
Rated 24 Nov 2018
chemical404chemical404
Rated 14 Jun 2010
89
99th
Journey for a mind and soul. It depends on each viewer individually what they will found and receive from this film. I think most simply won't understand it. But for some it will be as rewarding and important as it is for me.
Rated 14 Jun 2010
tinysausagetinysausage
Rated 22 Dec 2010
77
72nd
Even the sub-Bond score and dodgy day-for-night photography can't spoil this beautifully shot walk through Australia's eden. Elliptical, symbolic, with something of the sixties about it.
Rated 22 Dec 2010
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 01 Feb 2016
80
72nd
One of the most immaculately shot films ever. The plot is truly bizarre right off the bat with the inexplicable Dad scene. It does drag on, but ends up making some very poignant and important conclusions re: lust and freedom. Watch this alone with a patient mind.
Rated 01 Feb 2016
mrcimrci
Rated 31 Oct 2021
70
67th
Great cinematography in this road movie about being lost, communication, adolescence.
Rated 31 Oct 2021
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 20 Oct 2010
40
97th
"An innocent family picnic turns existential in Nicolas Roeg's brilliant Walkabout." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 20 Oct 2010
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
75
89th
Quality film.There are few films of its kind a treat to watch.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
denizbodenizbo
Rated 23 Feb 2019
82
57th
kanimca çiplak beyaz kadin goruntulerinden alakasiz (kasap, ot, bortu bocek) goruntulere kesme yaparak izleyiciyi rontgenciliginden haberdar eden, yabancilastiran film. nitekim ayni "kariya dikiz" hissini yerli (ve siyah dolayisiyla) kadin vucutlarina bakarken yasamazsiniz ve roeg sizi bundan haberdar etmek icin elinden geleni yapar. yillar sonra genc delikanlilarin erotik film sanarak izlemesi tuhaftir.
Rated 23 Feb 2019
gnalkhereGnalkhere
Rated 18 May 2012
75
59th
Unlike Don't Look Now, this is Roeg's actual masterpiece.
Rated 18 May 2012
glmglm
Rated 10 Jul 2012
85
80th
85.625
Rated 10 Jul 2012
haileyHailey
Rated 20 Dec 2014
95
92nd
the basic plot: Two white children are stranded in the outback after their father kills himself and tries to kill them. They meet an Aborigine on his "Walkabout" and go along with him. A simple story can make for a compelling movie.
Rated 20 Dec 2014
guy_piranhaguy piranha
Rated 08 Aug 2015
80
90th
aaaw, the shackles of "civilisation"! we sure know how to push various buttons in a logical order, eat/drink more than we need and be all hedonistic and stuff...but beyond that? being lost in the wild, i'm not sure i could provide myself with food, drink or any other crucial effects just in order to ensure my very basic survival. who's the primitive now, eh?
Rated 08 Aug 2015
dooooooleydooooooley
Rated 05 Feb 2009
90
82nd
if you're into beautiful montage of unfamiliar worlds.
Rated 05 Feb 2009
syntheseizurSyntheseizur
Rated 27 Nov 2011
83
75th
It's a distant film without much structure. It's fairly straightforward, but it's told through images rather than words so it comes across as more profound and nuanced. The editing is the most striking and defining element, and it brilliantly contrasts the two worlds of the film: the natural world of the outback and the man-made urban world. The themes are nothing new but it's quite a unique film.
Rated 27 Nov 2011
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 13 Feb 2007
88
96th
Roeg's masterful cinematography really shines in this near-silent film, in which a pair of young siblings battle for survival alone in Australian wilderness. Superb.
Rated 13 Feb 2007
theyshoot10theyshoot10
Rated 15 Jan 2010
67
34th
664
Rated 15 Jan 2010
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 27 Jan 2023
68
35th
Beautiful but missing something for me. Many Roeg films feel like they just miss the sweet spot for me. Still relatively interesting, but disappointing.
Rated 27 Jan 2023
shewasSheWas
Rated 02 Apr 2024
80
86th
Terrific parenting all around
Rated 02 Apr 2024
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 09 Dec 2009
86
74th
Stimulating adventure with disturbing social overtones.
Rated 09 Dec 2009
theyshoot11theyshoot11
Rated 01 Dec 2011
67
34th
#664
Rated 01 Dec 2011
karamazovkaramazov.
Rated 15 Apr 2016
15
16th
PSI 77. n.b. Stockhausen in the soundtrack.
Rated 15 Apr 2016
graveyardtangraveyardtan
Rated 25 Aug 2014
75
44th
While Walkabout isn't a great movie, maybe not even a good one, it does a lot of things right. The editing, both visual and sound, is dense and modern, offering violent juxtapositions to contemplate long after the film is over.
Rated 25 Aug 2014
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 29 Dec 2010
90
83rd
Roeg's directing has a drifting, unreal quality, like a damaged dream infesting a sun-baked mind. The relationships carry a gripping weight, even though (perhaps because) they're sketched in with so little dialogue, such a dearth of shared information. Roeg is more interested in the feel of interactions than the details, and he allows things to remain mysterious without becoming so inflated as to become actual mysteries. It is about mood more than incident, and has a burrowing, haunting quality.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
boxcarsBoxcars
Rated 03 Jun 2015
8
71st
"Walkabout" is totally immerses viewers with its penchant for utilizing and contrasting visuals of nature, brutality, and sensuality to paint a parable about innocence and civilization.
Rated 03 Jun 2015
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 12 May 2019
87
91st
What a beautiful film. Roeg's typical cross-cutting is on full display, but his photography of such a stark landscape is gorgeous. Add some really great child performances, and this coming-of-age adventure is something else.
Rated 12 May 2019

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