In Kindred, Warrun (Damion Hunter) is a cynical young Indigenous man who is kidnapped along with his family by aliens. While leading them on a breathtaking escape, he discovers their origins and has his own worldview altered forever.

This 9-minute short film has the distinction of being the first sci-fi to star an Indigenous cast. While this doesn't inherently make it a better film, it certainly gives the filmmakers a unique angle through which to market this nicely shot film to fests. The film benefits from the presence of veteran Indigenous actor David Page, and while the rest of the cast isn't quite up to his level of performance they do well enough to not distract from the film's overall ideas and special effects. Kindred is definitely a thought-provoking film, perhaps even moreso because it is a shorter film than it could have potentially been and much of the story is told through soundbyte flashbacks that give you pieces of truth to try to assemble together.

Filmed on location in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia, Kindred takes advantage of its location by creating an almost undeniable connection between the Indigenous people and the universe.

Kindred isn't a brilliant film, but it's an important film and it's a good film. The Indigenous voice is needed in cinema and it's an original and welcome voice in the world of sci-fi. For more information on this film, visit the film's website linked to in the credits.

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic