There's Always Been Langtons at Cold Comfort Farm
Dark Emu Exposed have been given a sneak preview of the new Blackfella film allegory, There’s Always Been Langtons at Cold Comfort Farm, due for release on October 15th, 2023.
Loosely based on the 1932 novel by Stella Gibbons, Cold Comfort Farm, this new film adaptation, There's Always been Langtons at Cold Comfort Farm, is framed as an allegory, an allegory that speaks to life in a hypothetical, remote Aboriginal community, that is in the grip of a Canberra-based dysfunctional ideology.
The film follows the successful efforts of a modern, young, political orphan, Flora Poste (played by Jacinta Price) who is sent to live with distant relatives, in a disadvantaged Aboriginal community, ruled over by an autocratic Auntie and long-time Marxist activist and ideologue, Ada Doom (played by Marcia Langton).
After a time of actually listening to the Voices of her cousins, aunts and uncles, Flora hatches a detailed plan to lift them all out of their imposed squalor, so that they can each flourish in their own unique way.
For some, this means fleeing 'country' to make a place for themselves in the big wide world; for others it means consolidating and modernising their lives ‘on country’ and making a real go of the farm.
Overall, a fine performance by Price as the young, dynamic Flora, who inspires by reminding us that we all have agency and the power within ourselves to set ourselves free from the bullies. Great performances by Kerrynne Liddle as Flora's trusted advisor, and Warren Mundine as the Hollywood film producer Mr Neck, who can see the business potential in the undervalued characters at Cold Comfort Farm.
In Preview 1 , Flora Poste (played by Jacinta Price) learns that Auntie Ada Doom (Marcia Langton) “saw something nasty in the woodshed”, which is used by Auntie Ada to consolidate her power given that, "there's Always Been Langtons at Cold Comfort Farm"
In Preview 2, the ever resourceful Flora hatches a successful plan to help her cousin, the young, buff, amateur actor, Seth Starkadder (Thomas Mayo), realise his dreams of achieving fame and fortune by going on the big-stage. Flora arranges for Seth to be “discovered” by the entrepreneurial Hollywood film producer, Mr Neck (Warren Mundine).
With Mr Neck’s patronage, Seth escapes the oppression of the remote community dominated by his controlling Aunt Ada Doom (Marcia Langton), much to the distress of his mother, brilliantly played by veteran Aboriginal actor and powerbroker Pat Turner. Yet Seth goes onto great things after realising that his interests are best served by following Flora's advice and breaking free.
In Preview 3 we see the final triumph of Flora and her policies. Everyone in the community has found a rewarding place for themselves in life, some by leaving and some by staying. Even Aunt Ada finally realises it is time to lift the ‘doom’ at Cold Comfort Farm and reject her youthful demon, the ‘something nasty in the woodshed’ [Marxism and race-hatred?] It’s happy endings all round as Auntie Ada quotes Jane Austen,
“What a pleasant life might be had in this world by a handsome sensible Old Lady of Good Fortune blessed with a sound Constitution and a firm will”
What might have been, but what still can be.
After 50 years it’s time for a new approach. Vote NO
