description Backroads Overview
Backroads is a 1977 Australian road film directed by Phillip Noyce. The story follows two men travelling through the Australian outback in a stolen car, with Bill Hunter and Aboriginal activist and actor Gary Foley in the principal roles. The film combines a journey narrative with social observation, using the road setting to examine tensions involving race, identity, and power in Australia.
help Backroads FAQ
What is the plot of Backroads?
This 1977 Australian road film follows Jack and Gary, who steal a car and travel through western New South Wales. Their journey turns violent after they pick up other travellers, including Gary's uncle Joe. ([Screen Australia](https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/screen-guide/backroads-2130/))
Who plays the two men in Backroads?
Bill Hunter plays Jack, a white drifter, and Gary Foley plays Gary, an Aboriginal traveller. Foley was also an Aboriginal activist and helped shape the film's Indigenous content.
What happens when the trip in Backroads goes wrong?
Gary's uncle Joe shoots a stranger, which brings the police into the story. The police arrest Joe and Jack and shoot Gary during the chase.
Is Backroads a conventional outback adventure?
No. Phillip Noyce made it as an experimental road movie, with much of the dialogue based on improvisation and the characters' social tensions.
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