High Ground

High Ground is a gripping colonialist revenge thriller set just after the First World War, spectacularly shot in the Australian outback. Ex-sniper Travis recruits the indigenous 19-year old Gutjuk, to track down his uncle, the leader of the Aboriginal mob that terrifies the Territory. Travis is forced to trust his new recruit and teach him to survive, while Gutjuk must risk everything to find his place between two worlds. Director Stephen Johnson worked closely with Aboriginal communities to develop a story that realistically and movingly brings their history to light.

‘At the heart of High Ground is the tragic story of Frontier encounters and the missed opportunity between two cultures. Faced with the myth of terra nullius the aim with the film is to present a different perspective on how this country was formed. It explores themes of identity and culture and the attempts that were made to preserve and progress culture in the face of an overwhelming threat. But above all it is a story about redemption and the finding of ones roots. My aim has been to entertain and immerse an audience in an environment teeming with unexpected threats, and to take them on a ride through an aspect of Australia’s history that is under- represented, hopefully encouraging them to rethink the Australian story.’

Stephen Maxwell Johnson, Director