{"id":249801,"date":"2021-05-14T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T12:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review\/"},"modified":"2021-05-14T15:20:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-14T12:20:00","slug":"watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch High Ground with film summary and movie review"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a216ce4e3e39\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a216ce4e3e39\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review\/#%E2%80%9CWatch_High_Ground_Online%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Watch High Ground Online&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-5' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-5'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review\/#Roxana_Hadadi\" >Roxana Hadadi<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/watch-high-ground-with-film-summary-and-movie-review\/#High_Ground_2021\" >High Ground (2021)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWatch_High_Ground_Online%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Watch High Ground Online&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/review\/primary_image\/reviews\/high-ground-movie-review-2021\/high-ground-movie-review-2021.jpeg\"><\/img><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section>\u201cTaking the high ground\u201d has both figurative and literal meanings. The former serves as an indication of morality, and describes someone taking what they assume to be a more justified or principled position (\u201cWhen they go low, we go high\u201d). The latter has a militaristic explanation, and <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lies to strengthening your position while fighting a foe by elevating yourself above them. One definition makes for better <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> standing, the other definition for superiority in combat, and both follow a certain hierarchy in terms of whom we consider victors. And both also, argue director Stephen Maxwell Johnson\u00a0and writer\u00a0Chris Anastassiades in their film \u201cHigh Ground,\u201d provide cover for the kind of colonialism, violence, and destruction that invading powers have used for centuries to plunder, subjugate, and oppress at will.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section>\n<p>\u201cHigh Ground\u201d is the latest Australian film\u2014after Jennifer Kent\u2019s \u201cThe Nightingale,\u201d Justin Kurzel\u2019s \u201cTrue History of the Kelly Gang,\u201d and Leah Purcell&#8217;s \u201cThe Drover\u2019s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson\u201d\u2014to interrogate the belief that the continent was just empty and waiting for foreign settlers. When the British arrived in the late 18th century to establish a penal colony populated partially by Irish convicts who were being punished for trying to fight off the British invading <em>their <\/em>country, and to murder, rape, and enslave the Indigenous Australians already living there, they took control of the widely accepted historical narrative.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can guess the party line, because something not dissimilar happened in the United States. Indigenous Australians were brutes, savages, and sinners, and only through the monarchy and the Church could they be redeemed. During the Australian frontier wars, whole tribes were slaughtered in hundreds of massacres; children were separated from their parents, renamed, and placed with white families; and none of these things was considered a crime. Hundreds of years later, systemic racism persists, with Indigenous people more often dying in police custody, victims of a \u201ccriminal justice system &#8230; deeply implicated in the long-term project of controlling and containing colonised peoples,\u201d according to professor Chris Cunneen in a 2019 column for <em>The Guardian<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>All of this serves as what historical drama \u201cHigh Ground,\u201d which Johnson describes as \u201ca story about the finding\u00a0of one\u2019s roots,\u201d is confronting and interrogating in its tale of two rival factions, one white and one Indigenous, who engage in a 12-year-long conflict. Does Johnson\u2019s director\u2019s statement, in which he refers to the film as the exploration of \u201cthe missed opportunity between two cultures,\u00a0black and white,\u201d hint at both-sides-ism? A bit, and the film\u2019s most obvious missteps involve how its primary characters sometimes feel more like broad types (the hesitant white man, the betrayed Indigenous boy) than like specific people. Also slightly off is the purposeful way \u201cHigh Ground\u201d seems to equate the violence performed by those defending themselves with that performed by conquerors; there is a subplot involving guerrilla attacks organized by Indigenous survivors that the movie can\u2019t quite decide whether to treat with admiration or admonishment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section>\n<p>\u201cHigh Ground\u201d is undoubtedly a difficult watch in that it recreates and centers violence inflicted upon Indigenous Australians to progress its narrative, and a predictable one in that it uses such trauma and white guilt to prove its points. But what \u201cHigh Ground\u201d does well is provide a showcase for actors of Indigenous descent, who come together into the ensemble cast that is the film\u2019s strongest quality. Johnson and Anastassiades emphasize Indigenous tribal customs, religious beliefs, and familial dynamics in deftly staged scenes: a hunting lesson between uncle and nephew, their bodies smeared with white paint; a communal gathering at the waterside, with relatives of all ages eating and spending time together; a face-off about the country\u2019s laws and future with British officials, whose ignorance is only matched by their pomposity. Actors Jacob Junior Nayinggul, Sean Mununggurr, Witiyana Marika, and Esmerelda Marimowa are all captivating, and their work elevates \u201cHigh Ground.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Set in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia, in 1919, \u201cHigh Ground\u201d begins with a staggering act of cruelty. During what is ostensibly a visit from a Christian missionary to an Indigenous Australian tribe, the accompanying policemen open fire. Watching from his sniper\u2019s position up above, policeman Travis (Simon Baker) is revolted by his men indiscriminately killing the elderly, women, and children, and he saves a young boy, Gutjuk (Guruwuk Mununggurr), from his fellow World War I veteran Eddy (Callan Mulvey). Twelve years later, Gutjuk now goes by Tommy (Nayinggul), and lives at the mission outpost with Claire (Caren Pistorius), the missionary\u2019s sister, who cares for him deeply. A teenager now, Tommy is a dutiful, resourceful young man\u2014but when he learns that his uncle Baywara (Sean Mununggurr), long thought to be dead as a result of that attack, is still alive, something in him shifts. But when the Australian police decide to use Tommy as bait and force him to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> with them into the bush in pursuit of Baywara, Tommy and Travis develop an uneasy camaraderie.<\/p>\n<p>Does Travis still feel shame for what he did, and if so, why is he still following superior officer Moran\u2019s (Jack Thompson) orders to double cross this boy?\u00a0 Does Tommy remember everything that happened to his family that day, and if so, will he sympathize with Baywara, his female comrade Gulwirri (Marimowa), and his grandfather Dharrpa (Marika) enough to leave these white people\u2014even Claire, who has cared for him as she would a son? The Australian countryside is vast, verdant, and treacherous, and cinematographer Andrew Commis captures both the scale and mystery of this place with wide-angle shots of the fields, rock formations, and marshes and more intimate compositions of swarming ants, tree trunk-clinging lizards, and lurking alligators. Nighttime attacks by Baywara\u2019s group on the homes of white settlers are illuminated with fire and juxtaposed with the cacophonous caws of wild birds. A surprise flanking attack by the Indigenous upon Travis\u2019s men is an exercise in foreground and background balance, with bodies emerging out of grass, from behind tree trunks, and out of thin air to draw our attention to various corners of the frame. All of these details help build this world, cementing an atmosphere of harshness and brutality.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section>\n<p>Amid all this, the performances of Nayinggul and Mununggurr particularly stick out, with the former communicating Tommy\u2019s increased interest in exploring who he could have been if he had stayed as Gutjuk and the latter capturing Baywara\u2019s laser-focused vengeance. Baker does well too, although his character is so indecisive and spontaneous that it\u2019s difficult to track Travis\u2019 progression over time. Between its evocative ensemble, fluid editing, and interest in Aboriginal culture, \u201cHigh Ground\u201d is worth a watch, even if it ultimately feels overshadowed by the message it\u2019s trying to send rather than being defined by the story it actually tells.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<p><em>Now available on demand and on digital platforms.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure>\n<div>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Roxana Hadadi\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/user\/primary_image\/roxana-hadadi\/featured_RoxanaHadadiHeadshot1.jpg\" title=\"Roxana Hadadi\"><\/img><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div><figcaption>\n<h5><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Roxana_Hadadi\"><\/span>Roxana Hadadi<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h5>\n<p>Roxana Hadadi is a film, television, and pop culture critic. She holds an MA in literature and lives outside Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section> <\/section>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"High Ground movie poster\" itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/movie\/movie_poster\/high-ground-2021\/large_high-ground-poster.jpeg\" title=\"High Ground movie poster\"><\/img><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"High_Ground_2021\"><\/span> High Ground (2021) <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p> <meta content=\"NR\" itemprop=\"contentRating\"><\/meta> Rated NR  <\/p>\n<p> 104 minutes <meta content=\"PT104M\" itemprop=\"duration\"><\/meta><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<section>\n<section>\n<div>\n<div>\n<article target=\"_blank\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/blog_post\/primary_image\/interviews\/i-will-not-forget-you-barry-jenkins-on-the-underground-railroad\/thumb_UGRR_S1_UNIT_102_0820R.jpg\"><\/img><\/p>\n<p> about 2 hours ago <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<article target=\"_blank\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/blog_post\/primary_image\/interviews\/the-kind-of-stuff-that-opens-you-up-as-a-human-being-simon-baker-on-high-ground\/thumb_high-ground-interview.jpeg\"><\/img><\/p>\n<p> about 2 hours ago <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<article target=\"_blank\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/blog_post\/primary_image\/tributes\/the-end-of-an-era-norman-lloyd-1914-2021\/thumb_Auchlander.jpg\"><\/img><\/p>\n<p> 2 days ago <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<article target=\"_blank\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.rogerebert.com\/uploads\/blog_post\/primary_image\/festivals\/truefalse-festival-2021-highlights-of-a-virtual-event\/thumb_true_false.png\"><\/img><\/p>\n<p> 2 days ago <\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/watch-movies-tv-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch Movies &#038; TV Series <\/a>category<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/high-ground-movie-review-2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Watch High Ground Online&#8221; \u201cTaking the high ground\u201d has both figurative and literal meanings. The former serves as an indication of morality, and describes someone taking what they assume to be a more justified or principled position (\u201cWhen they go low, we go high\u201d). The latter has a militaristic explanation, and applies to strengthening your&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":249802,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[105842,105840,105841],"class_list":["post-249801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-watch-movies-tv-seriess","tag-high-ground-film-summary","tag-high-ground-movie-review","tag-watch-high-ground-online"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249801\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}