Journey out of Darkness

James Trainor
Australia/America 1967
92 min

Journey out of Darkness is set in Central Australia in 1901. It tells the story of a young white trooper Peterson who is sent to arrest an Aboriginal man of the Arunta nation responsible for a ritual killing.

On the return journey, the trooper's Aboriginal tracker dies because a bone had been pointed at him. The tracker's death leaves Peterson to cross the desert alone with his prisoner.

Their roles are soon reversed and through the experience Peterson gains a new understanding of Aboriginal people and their knowledge.

Despite the liberal message of the plot, Journey out of Darkness was curiously archaic in its casting of a white actor, Ed Devereaux, in a principal Aboriginal role. For this reason, the film was unpopular at a time when consciousness of Aboriginal affairs was growing stronger in the Australian community.
(edited from www.natsiew.nexus.edu.au)

Cast	Konrad Matthaei Ed Devereaux Kamahl Ronald Morse Marie Clark Betty Campbell Julie Williams Nikutjilbi Donald Campbell William Campbell Peterson, trooper Jubbal, Aboriginal tracker Aboriginal captive Sergeant Miller Mrs. Miller Mrs. Jubbal Aboriginal Girl Chief Son of Jubbal Son of Jubbal
Release dates	15 December 1967 (State Theatre of Sydney)
Video/DVD Release Date	not available
Awards	not available
Rating	not available
Language level	not available
Distributor	not available
Soundtrack	Bob Young
Genre	Epic, Adventure
Notes	Journey out of Darkness was filmed around Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia Kamahl who plays the Aboriginal captive was born of Sri Lankan parents in Kuala Lumpur.

Where to from here?

• Read more about Aboriginal culture
• Explore a contemporary view of Aboriginal people
• Take the Aboriginal Australia Test