This film is part of Rentals
High Ground
A young Indigenous man teams up with a policeman to track down a warrior outlaw in this piercing exploration of justice and morality within the Australian settlement.
Director: Stephen Maxwell Johnson
Overview
Twelve years after a brutal Indigenous massacre during Australia’s colonial period, three of its protagonists are brought back together when a child survivor (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) and a policeman (Simon Baker) are enlisted to track down a tribal outlaw (Sean Mununggurr) who’s enacting his own reign of terror on new settlers.
As with Sweet Country, director Stephen Maxwell Johnson uses the skin of a fugitive thriller to explore notions of justice, morality and cultural imperialism. Featuring stunning images from the wilderness of the Northern Territory, and with exceptional performances, High Ground is both a thrilling drama and a powerful corrective to accepted notions of the Australian settlement.
Related
Tornado Tornado
Action and Adventure 2025 91 mins Director: John Maclean
John Maclean’s follow-up to Slow West, an idiosyncratic western, offers a windswept interpretation of the Samurai genre.
William Tell William Tell
Action and Adventure 2024 133 mins
A peaceful huntsman is thrust into the heart of the resistance following an Austrian Empire invasion, in this gripping retelling of a timeless legend.
Kill Kill
Action and Adventure 2023 105 mins Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
A pair of commandos square off against savage bandits in this breathless action thriller set on a moving train.
La Chimera La Chimera
Action and Adventure 2023 132 mins Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Alice Rohrwacher’s fascinating new drama finds Josh O’Connor’s fish out of water delving into the world of stolen artefacts.
Vesper Vesper
Action and Adventure 2022 114 mins Director: Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper
In a desolate post-apocalyptic future, a young teenage survivor has to avoid scrutiny from her uncle (a menacing Eddie Marsan) and the ruthless authorities pursuing her in this dark and dangerous fairytale.
Embrace of the Serpent Embrace of the Serpent
Action and Adventure 2015 124 mins Director: Ciro Guerra
The spirit of Werner Herzog and Apocalypse Now imbue this majestic Oscar-nominated odyssey through the heart of the Amazon.
BlacKkKlansman BlacKkKlansman
Drama 2018 135 mins Director: Spike Lee
Spike Lee's stunning crime drama tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of an African-American police officer who infiltrated the KKK in the 1970s.
The Wife The Wife
Drama 2018 100 mins Director: Aneil Karia, James Gray, Anna Biller and 1 more
Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce are the spouses with a secret in a tight, taut drama of ego and legacy.
First Mann First Mann
Drama 2018 141 mins Director: Damien Chazelle
Ryan Gosling stars as Neil Armstrong in this powerful and sometimes petrifying biopic from the director of La La Land.
Two for Joy Two for Joy
Drama 2018 90 mins Director: Tom Beard, Xavier Legrand and Sandhya Suri
A visceral, moving exploration of one British family's life following a tragedy, starring Samantha Morton, Daniel Mays and Billie Piper.
Boys on Film 19: No Ordinary Boy Boys on Film 19: No Ordinary Boy
Anthology 2018 137 mins Director: Leon Lopez and Marco Alessi
The Boys on Film series reaches the end of its teenage years with another compilation celebrating male desire in all its forms.
Snowpiercer Snowpiercer
Science Fiction 2013 126 mins Director: Bong Joon Ho
After a global catastrophe launches the world into a new ice age, the last of humanity are trapped on a high-speed train that circles the globe infinitely.
Palestine 36 Palestine 36
Period drama 2025 120 mins Director: Annemarie Jacir
Acclaimed Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s most ambitious work is a powerful exploration of the events leading up to the Arab Revolt of 1936.
Ghost Trail Ghost Trail
Thriller 2024 106 mins Director: Jonathan Millet
Tense, morally complex political thriller about a man hunting down fugitive war criminals from the Assad regime in Syria, inspired by true events.
Plainclothes Plainclothes
Drama 2025 97 mins Director: Carmen Emmi
Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey lead a Sundance-prize winning ensemble in this knockout cruising drama from debut director Carmen Emmi.
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?
Documentary 2005 45 mins Director: Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly’s second collaboration with pop band Saint Etienne traces the hidden history of East London’s Lower Lea Valley before its Olympic makeover.
Young Hearts Young Hearts
Drama 2024 99 mins Director: Anthony Schatteman
A gentle and sincere story of queer love between two young teenage boys, told with warmth and humour.
Finisterre Finisterre
Documentary 2003 59 mins Director: Kieran Evans and Paul Kelly
A journey from London’s suburbs to its heart, charting the influence of the city on indie pop band Saint Etienne.