simoneastman Review of The Extraordinary Tale of William Buckley: The great untold story of Australia's Robinson Crusoe

The Extraordinary Tale of William Buckley: The great untold story of Australia's Robinson Crusoe (2010 TV Movie)

History Lesson that hits the mark

[7/10 · 9 March 2024]

A fair telling of the, yes, extraordinary story of William Buckley. The escaped convict who lived for 30 years in the land of the Wathurong people, in what is now Southern Victoria and lived to see the settling of Melbourne and the destruction of his Wathurong family and the indigenous way of life. Tribal scenes are convincingly recreated by mostly Yolngu actors from Northern Australia, The film doesn't shy away from the more brutal aspects of tribal life, including cannibalism and constant skirmishes. The historical commentary and indigenous context is fair minded if a little pedestrian. I'd have liked introduction to an extraordinary tale.