With its breathtaking vistas and breathtaking natural wonders, Australia is the closest thing you can get to postcard heaven, especially if you’re part of the wealthy elite. But the country’s first inhabitants knew another Australia; one marked by intolerance, oppression and the constant threat of destruction. The feature-length documentary “Utopia” takes a close look at their plight and calls on all citizens of the country to stand up against the grotesque human rights abuses taking place in their own backyards.
Australia’s black Aboriginal people lived on the land thousands of years before the European invasion in 1788. These invaders blatantly disregarded the right of these indigenous peoples to exist, destroying their tribes through violence and concentration camps and the spread of devastating diseases.
The same deep-seated racism prevails today, albeit hidden in plain sight. The film shows us surveillance footage of physical abuse by law enforcement officers and an interview with an officer who worked to sterilize Indigenous people.
However, the most obvious crimes stem from the way Indigenous peoples are forced to exist. Ironically, the region known as Utopia is the poorest region in Australia and also has the largest Aboriginal population. There, the filmmakers gaze steadfastly with their cameras, forcing us to witness the pain and desperation of their living conditions. People seem to be snubbed, snubbed, almost forgotten by “civilized” society. They lack adequate shelter, clean water, public transport, electricity and access to sanitation and sanitation. Charitable organizations strive to improve the quality of life of Indigenous peoples, but their efforts are hampered by a lack of awareness among the country’s citizens and a lack of empathy among government officials.
Australia’s Indigenous peoples are an irreplaceable part of the country’s history and must be protected. Unfortunately, the evils of the past continue to rule the present. Hopefully films like Mighty and Compassionate Utopia can help create a brighter future.
Directed by: John Pilger, Alan Lowery
