This movie is a terrible movie and fails at trying to get a clear and thought-provoking message across.
It follows a Grade 5 boy called Dujuan as he struggles in school.
This Dujuan kid is genuinely stupid. The movie description makes him seem like such a smart kid who has genuinely been failed by the education system. This is false. His report cards consist of straight Es. I didn't even know it was possible to get Es on an Australian report card. He also runs away from school everyday which is obviously not the schools fault, or even a cultural issue.
The only one slight problematic thing I found in the school was a teacher belittling the dreamtime stories (happens once in the entire movie. She says something like "I don't believe that/so we're supposed to believe that, etc" There are also white kids in the school. In fact, I'm pretty sure that if a white kid did these same things, the school would be a little more concerned.
Even after getting expelled (for stealing a teacher's car keys and smashing a teacher's car window) and being moved to an Aboriginal school (not a state education), he is still disengaged and refuses to learn properly.
I find it hard to believe that he is struggling in school because he is an Aboriginal Australian. Even if his parents aren't as educated, the least he could do is try in school.
If a white kid ran away from home and school everyday, smashed a car window, and was getting all Es in their report card, the outcome would be the same, they would still get in trouble.
Dujuan is not struggling to balance his traditional cultural heritage and state education. His family has very strong cultural values and understand the importance of school, encouraging him to go every single day. He gets a traditional education at home, learns about bush medicine, speaks the language, goes fishing, hunts, etc. He has a decent home life, with lots of relatives, strong community, friends and loving parents.
Even though his parents are separated, his dad is very kind and loving towards him, as is the rest of his family. There is no abuse, they live in a pretty nice house with a TV that has a decent amount of food, love and space.
He is the only one out of his siblings who seems to have issues with going to school. Dujuan also appears to have no mental issues or problems, so it's very clearly a him issue.
I don't know what to write about in my upcoming essay.