By Alicia Malone

Twenty years ago Australia’s first Indigenous musical “Bran Nue Dae” held it’s stage debut at the Perth Festival. Written by musician Jimmy Chi, the musical was inspired by his experiences of growing up in Broome and attending a strict Catholic boarding school in Perth. The show toured nationally in the early 90’s, being seen by over 200,000 people, and striking a chord with many, such as director Rachel Perkins; who has spent the past decade bringing the stage musical to the big screen.

Set in 1969, “Bran Nue Dae” centers on schoolboy Willie (Rocky Mackenzie), who’s enjoying a summer holiday in his hometown of Broome - hanging out with friends and his crush, the beautiful Rosie (Jessica Mauboy).

His summer of fun is well and truly over when he’s sent back to a Catholic mission in Perth, which he soon runs away from after getting into trouble with the strict German headmaster Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush).

Teaming up with his homeless drunk uncle “Tadpole” (Ernie Dingo), the two hitch a ride back to Broome with hippies Slippery (Tom Budge) and Annie (Missy Higgins), with Father Benedictus hot on their tails.

Once the group hit the road the film becomes more like a serious of sketches filled with funny cameos, losing all tension of the race back to Broome, and by the time we get to the ending the story has descended into a far fetched farce.

But the energetic songs peppered throughout the film will have you tapping your feet, and the cast of singers (Jessica Mauboy, Missy Higgins and Dan Sultan) all do a pretty decent job in their first acting roles.

Geoffrey Rush hams it up as the German priest who pronounces his w’s as v’s, Magda Szubanski gets to do some fun flirting, but the actor who stole the show for me was Deborah Mailman who is brilliant in her small role as the hard drinkin’ hard lovin’ Roxanne.

The movie touches on Aboriginal issues usually seen in more serious films, such as binge drinking, tough mission schooling, and death in custody; but in a light-hearted way.

At the film’s Sydney premiere Rachel Perkins joked the film should come with a warning that “non Indigenous people are allowed to laugh at the funny Aborigines in this movie”. And indeed if you embrace the madcap energy, “Bran Nue Day” is a flawed, but ultimately entertaining ride.

- You can catch Alicia Malone on The Movie Network's Premiere program each and every week.