Romper Stomper (1992)

Director:

Geoffrey Wright

Writer:

Geoffrey Wright (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 1992 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

You've never seen anything like it.

Plot:

A group of skinheads become alarmed at the way their neighbourhood is changing.

Plot Keywords:

Skinhead | Vietnamese | Nazi | Medication | Dance Scene

Awards:

8 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Hando
Daniel Pollock	...	Davey
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Gabe
Alex Scott	...	Martin
Leigh Russell	...	Sonny Jim
Daniel Wyllie	...	Cackles
James McKenna	...	Bubs
Eric Mueck	...	Champ
Frank Magree	...	Brett
Christopher McLean	...	Luke
Josephine Keen	...	Megan
Samantha Bladon	...	Tracy
Tony Lee	...	Tiger
John Brumpton	...	Magoo
Don Bridges	...	Harold

Runtime:

94 min | South Korea:88 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Vietnamese | German | Japanese | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 | Germany:18 (cut version) | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating) | Australia:R | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | France:-12 | Germany:18 (nf) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (cut) | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (cut) | Finland:K-18 (2003) | Finland:(Banned) (1993) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

The character of Hando was originally written for Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn. However, Mendelsohn did not look menacing when his head was shaved, where as Russell Crowe had shaved his head, gotten into character, and had been persistently contacting Geoffrey Wright to reconsider his casting decision. When Wright decided Mendelsohn didn't have the look, the role went to Crowe.

Quotes:

Gabe: What's the matter with you?
Hando: You! You dumb slut!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000 (#4.2)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Les pecheurs de perles

Fighting for Survival, Power

I'm sure people may have dismissed this movie as a nazi tribute to white power. On the contrary, it gives an excellent picture of what happens when powerless people try to find some control over their lives. Nazi-ism itself is scapegoating and blame disguised as fascism, and this movie uses it to paint a picture of desolation and desperation.

White power and immigrant-hatred are not what this movie is about. It's about friendship and the need to belong to something. Russell Crowe's Hando is powerful - I couldn't take my eyes off of him. Hando uses that magnetism to draw people into his ideology, thus creating control and power for himself. Things begin to unravel when Gabe, the girl who comes between Hando and Davey, throws off the hold Hando has enjoyed over his little crowd. Remember what Orwell says: Absolute Power corrupts absolutely? Well, so does arrogance. Arrogance and the lack of respect for one's fellow man, regardless of race or creed, are key players in this plot.

I wish there had been more of Davey (Daniel Pollock) in this film, and I'm sorry to have learned of his real-life suicide in the weeks after it's completion. I recommend this film to people who are interested in how poverty, ignorance, and powerlessness change people into strange earthly demons capable of indiscriminate violence.