Stars in the spotlight at High Ground’s NT film premiere

THE stars of new Australian film High Ground used the movie’s NT premiere last night to stress the importance of telling the story of the nation’s brutal frontier wars

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THE stars of new Australian film High Ground used the movie’s NT premiere last night to stress the importance of telling the story of the nation’s brutal frontier wars.

In a special guest appearance, actor Simon Baker said the film told the story of a confronting period in Australia’s past, but one that desperately needed telling.

High Ground actor Simon Baker at the film’s NT premiere. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

“A movie like this, I think, is so important because it gets in to the wounds,” he said.

“Looking into the wounds and being able to sit with the … grief is what we need to be able to do, in order to heal.”

Director Stephen Maxwell Johnson, actor Jacob Junior Nayinngul, actor and producer Witiyana Marika and producer Maggie Miles also attended the event.

High Ground actor Jacob Junior Nayinggul, director Stephen Johnson and actor and producer Witiyana Marika at the film’s NT premiere. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

High Ground, which is set in the 1930s, was predominantly filmed in Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park.

An action thriller, it tells the story of a young Aboriginal man, Gutjuk (Nayinngul), as he teams up with ex-soldier Travis (Baker) to track down dangerous warrior Baywara (Sean Mununggurr) – his uncle – and save the last of his family.

High Ground actor and producer Witiyana Marika at the film’s NT premiere. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

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The NT premiere was held at the Darwin Entertainment Centre and featured a red carpet entrance and pre-film discussion with the stars.

High Ground hits Australian cinemas on January 28.