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David Gulpilil wins Cannes best-actor award David Gulpilil wins Cannes best-actor award
(3 months later)
The Australian actor David Gulpilil has received a best actor award at the Cannes film festival for his role in Charlie's Country, which the director Rolf de Heer said had allowed the indigenous star to live up to his talent “for the first time”.The Australian actor David Gulpilil has received a best actor award at the Cannes film festival for his role in Charlie's Country, which the director Rolf de Heer said had allowed the indigenous star to live up to his talent “for the first time”.
Gulpilil won the best actor prize in the Un Certain Regard competition, which honours more offbeat films than those nominated for the Palme d’Or.Gulpilil won the best actor prize in the Un Certain Regard competition, which honours more offbeat films than those nominated for the Palme d’Or.
The Dutch-born director accepted the prize on Gulpilil's behalf. “He wanted very much to come to this Cannes. He loves the red carpet,” De Heer said, “but he had tribal business, land management business, and he had to pull out at the last minute. I know he will be deeply, deeply thankful.”The Dutch-born director accepted the prize on Gulpilil's behalf. “He wanted very much to come to this Cannes. He loves the red carpet,” De Heer said, “but he had tribal business, land management business, and he had to pull out at the last minute. I know he will be deeply, deeply thankful.”
Charlie's Country – co-written by De Heer and Gulpilil – is set in a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land and follows an elder as he struggles with his cultural ties in a world dominated by white law.Charlie's Country – co-written by De Heer and Gulpilil – is set in a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land and follows an elder as he struggles with his cultural ties in a world dominated by white law.
While the story is not autobiographical, much of it mirrors Gulpilil's life. Charlie battles with alcohol, spends time in prison and feels disconnected from his native land.While the story is not autobiographical, much of it mirrors Gulpilil's life. Charlie battles with alcohol, spends time in prison and feels disconnected from his native land.
De Heer said the personal connection allowed Gulpilil to deliver the performance of his career. The film received a standing ovation at Cannes.De Heer said the personal connection allowed Gulpilil to deliver the performance of his career. The film received a standing ovation at Cannes.
“David is such an extraordinary talent, and one of the great things about Charlie's Country for me is that he’s been allowed to live up to that talent for the first time,” De Heer said. “It's just the greatest role for him, ever.”“David is such an extraordinary talent, and one of the great things about Charlie's Country for me is that he’s been allowed to live up to that talent for the first time,” De Heer said. “It's just the greatest role for him, ever.”
The film has also helped Gulpilil, 60, to get his life back on track. The actor has not touched alcohol for two years and he is campaigning hard about land use in his native Arnhem Land. The film has also helped Gulpilil, 60, to get his life back on track. The actor has not touched alcohol for two years and he is campaigning hard about land use in his native Arnhem Land.
Gulpilil first attended Cannes in 1971, leaving Australia for the first time as a teenager following his breakthrough role in Nicolas Roeg’s film, Walkabout.Gulpilil first attended Cannes in 1971, leaving Australia for the first time as a teenager following his breakthrough role in Nicolas Roeg’s film, Walkabout.