Stories from life • Brian McFarlane

The Travellers and Kangaroo reviewed

Brian McFarlane, Cinema, 5 November 2025

Warmth and subtlety: Luke Bracey, Brian Brown and Susie Porter in The Travellers.

In recent weeks, two new Australian films have quietly earned our attention. Kangaroo (the third film with this title in Australian cinema history) and The Travellers are both modest, sensitive works with subtle writing and direction. Each incorporates elements of comedy and poignancy, presented in a restrained style not often seen or fully appreciated in Australian film—distinctly different from classics like The Man from Snowy River or Mad Max.

Kangaroo by Kate Woods

Director Kate Woods, known mainly for her TV work except for her 2000 feature Looking for Alibrandi, offers a quietly charming film in Kangaroo. The film is a semi-biographical story about a man's life, his concerns, and how they shift dramatically over time. It is not a traditional biopic but was “inspired” by a true story, according to the opening title.

The film begins with two introductory scenes featuring the protagonists. The first shows a young Indigenous girl, Charlie (played by Lily Whiteley), running through a vast outback landscape alongside bounding kangaroos.

It was “inspired” by a true story.

The Travellers also delivers poignant performances, highlighted by Luke Bracey, Brian Brown, and Susie Porter, blending warmth and subtlety to explore its characters' journeys.

Summary

Both Kangaroo and The Travellers offer thoughtful glimpses into Australian life, emphasizing nuanced storytelling and emotional depth rarely seen in mainstream cinema.

Author’s note: These films reflect a quieter, more intimate approach to storytelling that enriches Australian cinema's diversity beyond its iconic blockbusters.

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Inside Story — 2025-11-05