The Last Wave :: essays research papers

The Last WaveSOC 118 "The Last Wave"-Peter Weir dir.(1977)     In the bring, The Last Wave, the managing director is trying to communicate theidea of a flori shade within a goal or sub culture. The ascendant culture in thefilm is the black-and-blue members of society living in Australia. The subculture in thefilm is the Aborigines who were natives to the land before the white peoplesettled in Australia. The natives sustained their cultural beliefs andideologies while living in largely dwell cities. The dominant white cultureimposes their laws , ideas of societal values and moral beliefs on the nativeAborigines. Forcing them to abide by a different law placement and way of lifethan what their peoples have practiced for hundreds of years. In the movie thelawyer, David, represents the dominant culture to the Aborigines because herepresents the law that is controlling their fate in the white culture.     The director is also giving us many symbols or opthalmic communication suchas the consistency of water in the film as well as, the overbearing control of fantasm. The film is shot in shadows and overall is very dark , almost forcingus to look beyond the obvious plot and storyline and into the meaning or whatthe film/director is trying to tell us. The darkness in the film can be seen asunconsciousness. It can also be seen as a fortune telling of the darkness that willoccur in the world when the last rock comes. The last vibrate meaning a gianttidal wave that will cover the earth , killing humanity. This idea is similarto the Christian belief in the flood that was sent down centuries ago to breakall the evil in the world. Also, all the modern aspects of the movie (courtroom,Davids office..etc) ar filmed in light. While, all of the Aborigines scenesare filmed in darkness or shadows. Giving me the impression of somethingmysterious or not unsounded by the whites concerning the Aborigines. The factthat all t he modern scenes are filmed in light can also support the idea of thewhite culture being the predominate culture in the film but heretofore not dominantenough to take away the shadows(mysterious , mystical)aspect of the Aborigines.The lawyer, David, Also goes by dint of a series of dreams and premonitions.This is stressing the idea of mind power and mystical force play that theAborigines have. In that way they can be seen as the dominant culture. Davidis stuck amongst two worlds. The world he knows and understands and the otherworld that he is decidedly a part of but does not understand.