I desperately, desperately wanted to like the film adaptation of Bran Nue Dae, as the original stage show is somewhat dear to me (I was taken to it twice when I was a little tacker. I actually believed for a short while that I was Aboriginal as I enjoyed the show so much). As a kid I loved it not only because it is filled with joy, love, laughter and show tunes, but because it was the first piece of truly Australian musical theatre I’d ever experienced.

In case you don’t share my passion for musicals, Bran Nue Dae is the (semi-autobiographical) story of young Broome local Willie (Rocky McKenzie), who is sent away by his mother to train as a priest in Perth. Willie leaves behind the land and lifestyle that he loves, as well as Rosie, the pretty young songstress who has stolen his heart (Australian Idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy).

When he arrives at the religious mission he upsets the head priest Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush) and decides to run away back to Broome. Along the way he encounters a couple of hippies (Tom Budge and Missy Higgins), his ‘Uncle Tadpole’ (Ernie Dingo, who played this same role on the stage back in the ‘90s) and a boozy broad named Roxanne (Deborah Mailman).

But will Willie be too late? Has his girl Rosie fallen for the snake-hipped charms of local band boy Lester (Dan Sultan)?

The most refreshing thing about Bran Nue Dae is that it is in stark contrast with the oft-harrowing films that are the core of Australian Indigenous cinema (think Rabbit Proof Fence, Samson & Delilah, Ten Canoes). And this poignant theme is understandable – the Aboriginal people have a dastardly story to tell on the silver screen. But for some reason Jimmy Chi chose to pen a toe-tapping romp full of irreverent humour and sunshine, and this jubilant celebration of the Aboriginal spirit in unexpected and incredibly infectious.

There were elements of the film that I certainly enjoyed. The cast and crew seem to have had a lot of fun producing the movie, and this enthusiasm is apparent. The cast members from the local Broome community are brilliant - from the adolescent boys doing their choreographed number in the church to the pint-sized local kids doing cartwheels in the closing sequences, they all flash smiles the size of Texas when they realise they're on camera. It’s completely disarming.

The movie also showcases the bright colours and textures of Broome beautifully. A better ad for Western Australian tourism I cannot imagine.

But unfortunately the film adaptation didn’t quite do justice to Jimmy Chi's stage show. A few things just didn’t quite fly:

Firstly, the casting is a bit up and down. While vocally talented folk were an obvious asset, songstresses Missy Higgins and Jessica Mauboy were slightly weak in the acting department. On the other hand, the older cast members who are trained in both stage and film (eg Ernie Dingo, Geoffrey Rush and Deborah Mailman) absolutely shine.

The editing was a bit sloppy in parts and occasionally the audio in the musical numbers didn’t seem quite right – you had to strain to hear Jimmy Chi’s terrific lyrics through the big band sound.

Some scenes were also a little bit TOO vaudevillian. They jarred as being just a bit too gharish and Baz Luhrmann-y. I know this is a musical, but there's a fine line between being theatrical and completely OTT. 

Ultimately, I think I’m bound to be a bit unfair to this movie. My expectations were fairly unrealistic; replicating the magic of live theatre – the sweat and the energy and the little bits of spit coming out of the performers mouths – is damn near impossible. It was interesting to note that my companion hadn’t seen the musical, thus had no expectations, and she adored the film.

As a piece of Indigenous cinema that breaks the mould, Bran Nue Dae should be commended. But for those who have seen the stage show and are hoping to get the same buzz from the movie, there’s a chance you’ll find that the 2D version is a little wanting.

Bran Nue Dae opens in Australian cinemas tomorrow (Thursday, January 14, 2010).
You can view the Bran Nue Dae movie trailer here on TheVine.