Emu Runner
Nature can mend the most broken heart.
Emu Runner is the story of Gem Daniels (Rhae-Kye Waites), a nine-year-old Indigenous girl, who lives in a remote Australian town. As she copes with her mother's unexpected death, Gem finds solace in the company of a wild emu, unwittingly connecting with her mother's traditional totem animal.
Gem's obsessive attachment to the emu leads her down a troubled path as she feeds it her school lunches and begins to steal extra food for it. To spend more time with the emu, Gem skips school, attracting the attention of a new social worker in town, Heidi (Georgia Blizzard, Thor: Ragnarok) who is convinced Gem's family is failing to look after her. With the death of his wife, Gem's father Jay Jay (Wayne Blair, The Sapphires) is left to raise Gem, her 15-year old sister Valerie and her 17-year-old brother Ecka on his own. While Jay Jay's commitment to his family doesn't waver, the pressures to make ends meet and hold the family together are exacerbated by the antics of his children.
Not only does Jay Jay face prejudices from the white community in the town, he also has to prove himself to as a competent sole parent before Heidi takes Gem from him.
Critic Reviews:
- " Emu Runner was clearly a labour of love for everyone who worked on it. It's a small film but one that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. " – David Stratton
- " Thomas has made a deep, rich meditation on family, community, country and racial tensions that strides well beyond its girl-meets-bird logline. Flightless the Dromaius novaehollandiae may be, but “Emu Runner” soars. " – Eddie Cockrell
- " Emu Runner, like its heroine, is a quiet gem. Its simple and satisfyingly realised themes of family and identity will appeal to kids. " – Mel Campbell