The Fringe Dwellers (1986)

Director:

Bruce Beresford

Writers:

Bruce Beresford (writer)
Rhoisin Beresford (writer)

Release Date:

October 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You'll remember it for a long, long time . . . [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

Story of an aboriginal family who tries to move out of the fringe into the main white community. |

Plot Keywords:

1970s | Australia | Australian Aboriginal | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Justine Saunders	...	Mollie Comeaway
Kristina Nehm	...	Trilby Comeaway
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kylie Belling	...	Noonah Comeaway
Marlene Bell	...	Hannah
Wilf Campagnoni	...	Bert
David Clendenning	...	Headmaster
Wilkie Collins	...	Dr. Lymons
Alan Dargin	...	Bruce
Ernie Dingo	...	Phil
Dianne Eden	...	Matron
Laurie Foel	...	Waitress (as Laurence Foel)
Gabrielle Lanbrose	...	Mrs. Henwood (as Gabrielle Lambrose)
Sandra Lehane	...	Nurse Creswell
Bob Maza	...	Joe Comeaway
Michele Miles	...	Blanchie
Bill Sandy	...	Skippy
Anne Saward	...	May
Malcolm Silva	...	Charlie
Theresa Stafford	...	Schoolgirl
Lisa-Jane Stockwell	...	Nurse McCarthy
Terry Thompson	...	Horrie
Michelle Torres	...	Audrena
Robert Ugle	...	Tim
Denis Walker	...	Bartie Comeaway
Kath Walker	...	Eva
Maureen Watson	...	Rene
Leo Wockner	...	Stockman
Noanie Wood	...	Miss Simmons

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Cherbourg, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Fringe Dwellers Productions

Trivia:

Joe Comeaway says that he fought with Jimmy Sharman's troupe. 'Jimmy Sharman' was the name borne by a father and son pair of showmen. Both Sharmans toured agricultural shows around Australia with a troupe of boxers, with the father commencing operations in 1911 and the son taking over in 1955 and continuing the operation until new boxing regulations forced the closure in 1971. Many different boxers fought in his troupe, including many Aboriginals. Given the time period of the movie, Joe must have fought in Jimmy Sharman Jr.'s troupe.

Soundtrack:

Brown Skin Baby

Black Outsiders

A very unpopular film in its day sometime in 1986, this excellent Bruce Beresford film was wholly ignored by the Australian public and was regarded by crits of the time as a major misfire. Well maybe time will be kinder as I intend to be as I believe it is a compassionate funny and quite realistic look at the attempt of one Aboriginal (black) family to move from the riverbank shanty into a nice new house in town...which through the help of every relative and extended family hanger-on, manage to repaint lime green and almost completely trash - all within just one month. Told (like the superb NO WORRIES) through the eyes of their teenage daughter THE FRINGE DWELLERS does not falter in portraying the family and their calamities of lifestyle and town prejudices warts and all. Filmed in the small Queensland town of Murgon with plenty of local color and humor, THE FRINGE DWELLERS is often very funny showing the equally cringe-worthy and ghastly head-shaking behavior as 'the norm'. It is easy to take a set against the content as it all probably is exactly why well meaning white Australian townspeople criticize the unbelievable but true shabbiness and social disaster that happens when black rural Australia tries to go white. It is actually a heartfelt and charming film, well crafted and lovingly portrayed. It well deserves another new century view and I champion Director Bruce Beresford for his vision and humor. It also clearly shows his adept hand in an earlier clash of culture that was so celebrated in DRIVING MISS DAISY.