Australian Rules

"The rules are never black and white."

2002 1h 35m EN

😐

5.8

MID

★5.8TMDB · 19

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

16-year-old Gary Black is an average football player, budding wordsmith and reluctant hero. Gary helps his local Australian Rules football team win the local championship by accident, but celebrations turn to violence when Gary's Aboriginal best friend, Dumby Red is denied the "Best and Fairest" medal because of the racism of local officials.

“The rules are never black and white.”

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Cast

Nathan Phillips
Gary 'Blacky' Black
Luke Carroll
Dumby Red
Lisa Flanagan
Clarence
Tom Budge
Pickles
Simon Westaway
Bob Black
Celia Ireland
Liz Black
Kevin Harrington
Arks
Harrison Gilbertson
Greggy

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Paul Goldman
Writers: Phillip Gwynne, Paul Goldman
Languages: English
Countries: Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 24 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Paul Goldman, shot by Mandy Walker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Mick Harvey. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Stephen Evans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Nathan Phillips and Luke Carroll and Lisa Flanagan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The rules are never black and white.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0285006 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Paul Goldman directs. Mandy Walker behind the camera. Mick Harvey scores. Stephen Evans cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 24 years ago.
2Directed by Paul Goldman, shot by Mandy Walker. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Mick Harvey. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Stephen Evans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Nathan Phillips and Luke Carroll and Lisa Flanagan carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The rules are never black and white.".
7IMDB entry: tt0285006 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.