High Ground

High Ground, directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson, is an Australian film shot in the Northern Territory's Arnhem Land region, starring Simon Baker. The production involved Yolngu elder Witiyana Marika as both cultural consultant and co-story writer; the story is a fictionalized account inspired by the real 1911 Gan Gan massacre. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2020; at the AACTA Awards on December 8, 2021, it was nominated in eight categories including Best Film but won only Best Costume Design. The film holds a 90 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Who it's for: anyone curious about an Australian western inspired by a real colonial era massacre, made with the cultural guidance of the Yolngu community. Who it's not for: viewers who'd be discouraged that only one of eight award nominations turned into a win, though that reflects awards season fate more than the film's quality.