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The character of Botj personifies the promise, intelligence and ultimate tragedy of being trapped between two cultures that engulf too many Aboriginal teenagers. When first we meet Botj, he's returning home after serving time for past misdemeanours. Practically everyone within his community has dismissed him as 'trouble' with the exception of his childhood friends, Lorrpu and Milika. Lorrpu, in particular, is very loyal towards Botj and believes he can help him redefine his attitude to life and their cultural heritage. In the flashback sequences that depict the boys at age nine, it's apparent that Botj is the one who's the best hunter, the most accomplished, and a natural leader. But the following years have wrought a disturbing transition that has led him to the brink of self-destruction. The flashbacks also enable the audience to see Botj through Lorrpu's eyes and invite an emotional empathy with his character. "Botj is essentially the lost boy, the rebel without a cause, but in a sense he's far more complicated because again you're talking about someone who's torn between the old and the new," reflected Johnson. "He's a kid who's matured without a father figure -- having witnessed his father drunkenly abuse his mother. He's taken to petrol sniffing, stealing, anything, completely rebelling against his own heritage as well as that of the white man. He's a total rebel, a loose cannon and plays upon that fact -- especially to his mates. But he's been to jail and jail is the ultimate initiation for any young Aboriginal man." |
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