Stories from Life • Brian McFarlane
The Travellers and Kangaroo Reviewed
Brian McFarlane, Cinema, 5 November 2025
In recent weeks, two new Australian films have quietly demanded and earned our attention: Kangaroo and The Travellers. Both are unpretentious, sensitive, and subtly crafted, blending comedy and poignancy in a way rarely seen in Australian cinema—far removed from movies like The Man from Snowy River or Mad Max.
Kangaroo: A Semi-Biographical Tale
Directed by Kate Woods, known mainly for TV work and her 2000 feature Looking for Alibrandi, Kangaroo is a charming film inspired by true events. As the opening title states, it is "inspired" by a real story, rather than a conventional biopic. The film begins with two episodes introducing its protagonists. The first scene, before the title appears, shows a young Indigenous girl named Charlie (played by Lily Whiteley) running through a panoramic outback landscape, with kangaroos bounding alongside her.
The Travellers: Warmth and Subtlety
The Travellers features notable performances by Luke Bracey, Brian Brown, and Susie Porter, characterized by warmth and subtlety. Like Kangaroo, it embraces a quiet, sensitive approach rich with nuance and emotional depth.
"Inspired by a true story."
Author's summary: Both Kangaroo and The Travellers offer quietly powerful, sensitive portrayals of Australian life, emphasizing subtlety over spectacle and exploring human stories with warmth and depth.
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