Red Dog Essay

Thought the Red Dirt

Australian films are usually criticised for their poor cinematography, weak storyline and terrible stereotypical actors. However, this is not the case for the superb all age 2011 film entitled ‘Red Dog’. Based on the true Australian legend, Red Dog is loved by many Australians; he roamed the outback in search for his owner John. This emotional movie amazed the whole of Australia, finding his way into the hearts of everyone he meets. The film portrays a positive picture of Australia’s national identity as many of the landscapes and Australian spirit can still be found across Australia nowadays, which is why Red Dog should enter the ‘Cannes Film Festival’. The portrayal of the setting, characters and language have all played

important roles in shaping Australia’s identity.
Red Dog sets a positive picture on Australia’s identity.

It is set in Dampier, Western Australia's in 1971. Dampier is a small remote mining town. The miners take the bus every morning to go down to the mine; the road is made from dirt and sand. During the day, it is extremely hot, so workers have to protect themselves from the burning sun. In the beginning of the movie when Vanno was describing the extreme heat he said, “Remember Sam he worked in the sun for 5 hours with no hat, fool!” this relates the extreme weather in Australia. Every evening the workers would come home dirty and tired from their day at work. At dusk or when they had time, the workers would meet at the local pub to have a drink and gamble; this had become part of their diverse culture. At 14 minutes, a long shot is used to show the scenery of when Red Dog is scaring the seagulls on the dusty road, and in the background, the viewer can see the tip of the mining town. The bottom of the shot was burry to give the effect of a heat

wave.

In one of the scenes (0:24:00) the miners were and the pub gambling and wanted to bet to see if Red Dog was brave enough to eat a live chicken. The setting has been well expressed in Red Dog providing a positive description of Australia’s diverse identity.
John Grant becomes the main character in the move when Red Dog chooses him as his owner, but the rest of the miners get jealous, as they wanted Red Dog to be everyone’s dog, the town dog.

The characters wear typical Australian clothe the men’s wear shorts, singles and boots, the ladies wear button-up tops and a skirt or pants. One character that challenges the Australian Male stereotype is Peeto, one evening John asked Peeto to look after Red Dog whilst he went the movies with Nancy. When Peeto is home, alone he starts to knit while listening to calm country music but when Peeto mates knock on the door he changes the song and puts the knitting away, as he doesn’t want anyone to know. In the scene (0:32:19) Peeto says “Bring back my bloody yarn!” this is when Red Dog finds Peeto’s yarn and runs outside with it and Peeto’s friend see the yarn and laugh. Later in the movie, Peeto and Vanno are in the Ute on the way to the animal clinic and Peeto starts to make fun of Vanno, Vanno becomes irritated and says (0:42:45) “Knitter…What kind of man knits a sweater” and Peeto and Vanno start an argument about how Peeto is nor manly because he knits. In addition, it is through these characters that the language of Australia has been confidently

illustrated.
Another element used thought the movie is language; it is used to express values and attitudes. Australians are often represented as using common slang as ‘Bloody’ and ‘Bastard’. Red Dog strengthens the Australian setting and recreate the outgoing way Australians connect. In the movie, the Mining town is so small everyone knows each other. Red Dog shows the Drinking culture when each evening the miners would meet at the pub for a drink. In the movie, everyone will accept others even if they are from another culture. At the beginning on the movie (0:08:04) when the vet walks into the pub to check on Red Dog, Vanno says “Oh g’day Rick his out the back” this shows the Australian Culture and how they use slang. These characteristics have been effectively illustrated in Red Dog, providing a positive portrayal of Australia’s diverse culture.
As a result of Red Dog should enter the Cannes film festival for its true Australian identity and language. The Setting, Characters and Language all have an import part in making Red Dog and important Australian movie. Red Dog was filmed in 2011 in Dampier, Western Australia's. John Grant is the main character in the Movie as Red Dog chooses him as an owner. This is why Red Dog should enter the Cannes film festival.