The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith

The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is a 1978 Australian film directed by Fred Schepisi, and starring Tom E. Lewis , Freddy Reynolds and Ray Barrett. It is an adaptation of the novel The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Keneally. The story is written through the eyes of an exploited Aborigine who explodes with rage. It is based on an actual incident. Keneally has said he would not now presume to write in the voice of an Aborigine, but would have written the story as seen by a white character. For Schepisi the film's reception was a disillusioning experience and he left Australia soon after to... work in Hollywood, returning to Australia ten years later to make Evil Angels. The film won the Best Original Music Score , Best Actress in a Lead Role and Best Actor in a Supporting Role and was nominated for 9 more awards at the Australian Film Institute for 1978. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival. The novel was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1972, losing to John Berger's G.
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