description Walkabout Overview
Walkabout was directed by Nicolas Roeg and released in 1971. The film depicts a pair of British school children stranded in the Australian Outback, relying on the assistance of an Indigenous teenager for survival. It is adapted from James Vance Marshall’s 1959 novel and features Jenny Agutter and David Gulpilil.
info Walkabout Specifications
| Country | Australia |
| Year | 1971 |
help Walkabout FAQ
Who are the three main children in Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout?
Walkabout stars Jenny Agutter as the teenage girl, Luc Roeg as her younger brother, and David Gulpilil as the Aboriginal boy who helps them survive. The film deliberately leaves the characters unnamed, which makes the 1971 survival story feel more symbolic.
How closely does Walkabout follow James Vance Marshall's novel?
The film is loosely based on Marshall's 1959 novel, originally published as The Children. Nicolas Roeg and screenwriter Edward Bond changed key setup details, including making the children British schoolchildren rather than American crash survivors.
Why is Walkabout often linked with the Australian New Wave?
Walkabout was one of the early internationally visible films in the Australian New Wave period. It screened in competition at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival alongside another Australian outback landmark, Wake in Fright.
Is Walkabout mainly an adventure film or an art film?
It has a survival-adventure premise, but Roeg's editing and imagery make it closer to an art film than a conventional rescue story. Nicolas Roeg was also the cinematographer, and the Outback visuals are central to the film's meaning.
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