Wo die Grünen Ameisen Träumen (Where the Green Ants Dream) (1984)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(461 ratings)

In a slightly padded but well-acted and relevant drama, an Australian mining company and a group of aboriginals go to court to settle a dispute over sacred land that the company wants to mine. When the Ayers Mining Company sets out to begin construction of its mine with bulldozers and earth-movers,… More In a slightly padded but well-acted and relevant drama, an Australian mining company and a group of aboriginals go to court to settle a dispute over sacred land that the company wants to mine. When the Ayers Mining Company sets out to begin construction of its mine with bulldozers and earth-movers, the Aboriginals physically block the work because the site is exactly where the green ants will gather to dream (a 40,000-year-old legend) and it cannot be disturbed. The company tries the usual means of getting their way -- through bribes and arguments -- but nothing budges the men who came to defend the land. Once in court, it is quickly apparent that tribal laws and customs and beliefs are very different than Western laws -- and how the issue will be resolved is sticky indeed. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Werner Herzog
Written By: Werner Herzog
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 8, 1985 Limited
On DVD: Sep 26, 2006
Studio: Orion Classics

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
As a conventional narrative, it's extremely simple and fairly slapdash, but it's never simple-minded, being too full of moments of inspired craziness and wisdom.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Made in Australia, this effort is a slight, by-the-numbers rehash of Herzog's increasingly offensive noble savage theme.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
The director's eye shifts from the indigenous totem poles being celebrated to the less waxen eccentrics swarming in the sidelines

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Cast

            Bruce Spence as Lance Hackett

            Wandjuk Marika as Miliritbi

            Roy Marika as Dayipu

            Ray Barrett as Cole

            Norman Kaye as Baldwin Ferguson

            Robert Brissenden as Prof. Stanner

            Basil Clarke as Judge Blackburn

            Colleen Clifford as Miss Strehlow

            Ralph Cotterill as Fletcher

            Max Fairchild as Police Officer

            Hugh Keays-Byrne as Mining executive

            Nicolas Lathouris as Arnold

            Tony Llewellyn-Jones. as Fitzsimmons

            Dhungula I Marika as Malila "the Mute"

            Ray Marshall as Solicitor General Coulthard

            Gary Williams as Watson

            Marraru Wunungmurra as Daisy Barunga

            Christopher Cain
            
            Paul Cox as Mining Photographer

            Michael Edols as Young attorney

            Bob Ellis as Supermarket manager

            James Ricketson as Philip Adams the Mining Leader

            Tim Cartwright as RAAF Pilot

            Anastasios Chatzidimpas as Cook

            Maria Chatzidimpas as Mongoloid Girl

            Paul Donazzan as RAAF Pilot

            Susan Greaves as Secretary

            Noel Lyon as Bailiff

            Michael Mandalis as Mandalis

            Trevor Orford as Worker

            Phillip Radke as Chauffeur

            Ricky Ronnie as Strange Aborigine

            Maria Stratford as Peevish Woman

            Michael Glynn as Pilot

            Andrew Mack as Protocol Officer

            Nick Lathouris
            
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