{"id":3367,"date":"2007-06-24T09:50:28","date_gmt":"2007-06-24T16:50:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3367"},"modified":"2023-09-18T23:41:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T06:41:47","slug":"chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith-the-1978","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3367","title":{"rendered":"Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, The (1978)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;ve declared war &#8212; that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve done. I&#8217;ve declared war!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Poster-202x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Poster-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Poster-86x128.jpg 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the early 20th century, a half-aboriginal Australian (Tommy Lewis) tries to adapt to white culture, but finds himself unable to cope with rampant, debilitating racism.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Australian Films<\/li>\n<li>Cross-Cultural Romance<\/li>\n<li>Fred Schepisi Films<\/li>\n<li>Fugitives<\/li>\n<li>Native Peoples<\/li>\n<li>Race Relations<\/li>\n<li>Revenge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nFred Schepisi&#8217;s second film &#8212; a follow-up to his semi-autobiographical debut feature, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3212\"><em>The Devil&#8217;s Playground<\/em> (1976)<\/a> &#8212; was this adaptation of Thomas Keneally&#8217;s novel about the tragedy of systemic racism. Much like the New Zealand film <em>UTU <\/em>(1983), <em>Blacksmith<\/em> attempts to explain why relentlessly downtrodden individuals may turn to violence as a final means of expression: when all else is taken away from Jimmie (he&#8217;s unable to feed his own family), he must choose between abject resignation (other aborigines have descended into alcoholism) or rebellion. <em>&#8230; Blacksmith <\/em>isn&#8217;t an easy film to watch, but it bears viewing by anyone genuinely interested in Australian history.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tommy Lewis in the title role<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Lewis-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A no-holds-barred look at race relations and prejudice in early-20th century Australia<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Prejudice-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A powerful portrayal of a man attempting to straddle two radically different cultures<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67861\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Crosscultural-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A disturbingly realistic glimpse at aboriginal shantytowns<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67863\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Chant-of-Jimmie-Blacksmith-Life-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply for its historical importance. It&#8217;s listed as a cult movie in the back of Peary&#8217;s book, but I find it hard to believe that anyone could stomach this harsh film more than once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0077318\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1980\/08\/31\/archives\/protests-paeans-and-the-chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith-the-jimmie.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allmovie.com\/movie\/the-chant-of-jimmie-blacksmith-v86963\/review\">All Movie Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve declared war &#8212; that&#8217;s what I&#8217;ve done. I&#8217;ve declared war!&#8221; Synopsis: In the early 20th century, a half-aboriginal Australian (Tommy Lewis) tries to adapt to white culture, but finds himself unable to cope with rampant, debilitating racism. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Australian Films Cross-Cultural Romance Fred Schepisi Films Fugitives Native Peoples Race Relations Revenge Review: Fred Schepisi&#8217;s second film &#8212; a follow-up to his semi-autobiographical debut feature, The Devil&#8217;s Playground (1976) &#8212; was this adaptation of Thomas Keneally&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3367\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3367"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91723,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3367\/revisions\/91723"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}