AustLit

'Representations of Australian colonial frontier history in film are often fraught and contested affairs, doubly so when dealing with Aboriginal history. Some present a bleak vision, as white colonists in a harsh natural environment overcome adversity and ‘tame the land’ that includes Aboriginal people who become marginalised figures, victims of white racism. Grappling with this Australian film tradition is what we see in Western Australian writer-director Roderick MacKay’s ambitious first feature film, The Furnace. Here, Aboriginal people are depicted as strong, family-oriented, empowered people, proud of their culture. And The Furnace is something of a slow burn minor Australian masterpiece.' (Introduction)

'Debut director Roderick MacKay’s compelling meat pie western poses questions about Australian identity but never feels polemical or even political'