Returning to the world Tim Winton knows well, Blueback revisits Western Australia once again. This time it’s “I’ve got to go see a lady about a fish”. The lady in question is Abby a young girl born to the sea and played by three different actors at various times in her life.
Abby’s mother Dora (Radha Mitchell in the early years) is a firebrand who fights the good fight and tries to keep tourism out of her beautiful seaside community. The teenage Abby (Ilsa Fogg) follows in her mother’s footsteps and becomes a staunch activist for protecting the ecosystem of Australia’s reefs.
During her teen years, she befriends a large blue grouper, which she names Blueback. This giant fish spurs her on and buttresses her desire to protect the inhabitants of the ocean. Her childhood is impossibly idyllic and she grows up with an undiminished passion to help.
Being unbelievably principled at such a young age while also being the most perfect daughter strains credibility. The film also oddly does its best to bleach the drama out of its most dramatic scenes. It relies on you being swept away by the natural beauty of the ocean and it’s quite successful in that manner. The story though could have used a more assertive approach to be more memorable.
Rob Hudson
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