SYNOPSIS

Mystery Road. Ivan Sen (Beneath Clouds, Toomelah) makes a persuasive move into genre territory with this slow-burn thriller, set in outback Australia against the harsh realities of a community marked with racial tension and economic inequality. Jay Swan (the smouldering Aaron Pedersen) is an Aboriginal cop returning to his hometown after a long absence. His first investigation into the brutal murder of a local teenage girl uncovers a web of corruption and a growing body count. Increasingly disturbed by what he finds, and uneasy around his racist police colleagues (who are also disdainful of his ‘city’ attitude), Swan’s real challenge begins when his inquiries take him still closer to home. As the effects of violence ripple through the isolated community, dormant tensions swell to the surface and Sen builds an atmosphere of heat and dread, punctuating the mounting disquiet with superbly realised action sequences. Magnificent in its scope and incisive in its social commentary, Mystery Road is both a compelling riff on the Western genre and a biting exposé of indigenous Australian experience. Featuring a terrific cast, which includes Hugo Weaving, Ryan Kwanten, Jack Thompson and Jack Charles, the stunning cinematography, editing and broody, rumbling score are all Sen’s own work.


TRAILER


RELEASE DATE

October 10, 2013

DIRECTOR

Ivan Sen

WRITER

Ivan Sen

COMPANY

Arclight Films

GENRE

Action, Drama, Crime

RUNTIME

122 minutes

IMAGES