Required big-screen viewing, with elements of classic Westerns and courtroom drama, this compelling period tale is a layered story of prejudice, the imbalance of power, and the particular, troubled history of a place.

Sam, an Indigenous Australian man, lives peacefully with his wife and Fred Smith (Sam Neill), a white preacher in Alice Springs, an outpost in the Northern Territory. Fred believes “all are equal in the eyes of the Lord,” a stark contrast to new arrival Harry March, a veteran of the Western Front who’s steered by his inner demons. A violent confrontation requires Sam to act in self-defense, and as no white men witness the justness of Sam’s actions the truth only comes out with Sam’s own life on the line.

Superb cinematography contrasts the darkness of the human psyche to the stark beauty of the land, allowing no doubt that nature is still the ultimate master here—despite the misguided claims of men.