Romper
Stomper - Australian Films - Geoffrey Wright
1-World
Festival of Foreign
Films
HOME
CHOOSE-A-COUNTRY SEARCH
POST-A-REVIEW CONTACT
1-WORLD
Romper Stomper
Australia - 1992
Geoffrey Wright - Director
An artfully crafted film dealing with the neo-Nazi subculture in Melbourne. Knee-jerk reactions from critics were to criticize this film for "glamorizing violence". We did not find this to be so. We found the characters to be presented in an appropriate context, that is to say - they were vulgar.
Blind loyalty is the subject most closely examined here as we watch angst-ridden, "proud-to-be-ignorant", skinhead youths hop onto the neo-Nazi bandwagon. They babble on and on about "white power" and target Vietnamese immigrants as the focus of their hate. True, many scenes are disgustingly violent, just as they should be. There is no way to make these kind of thugs pretty. The only character that illicits sympathy is that of Gabe, a young woman suffering from epilepsy who has been fending off the constant sexual advances of her father. The gang begins to deteriorate as alliances are strained and tested by Gabe's arrival. She drifts from the gang's leader to his best friend, numbed by her own self-loathing.
We felt the director used his resources well, the original musical score by John Clifford White supported the film throughout and the "grey-tone" photography added a rich gritty texture. Russel Crowe was awarded the AFC Award (Australian Film Critics Awards, 1992) for Best Actor as well as the Golden Space Needle Award for Best Actor (Seattle International Film Festival, 1993) for his icy portrayal of Hondo, the gangs' leader. Jacqueline McKenzie won a Best Actress award from the Stockholm Film Festival (1992) for her performance as Gabe.
Runtime: 91 minutes
Guest Comments
From: "Panagea"
"I'm amazed and appauled by all the actual skinheads that commented here. My interpretation of the movie was a intellectual piece on the futility and self-destructiveness of racism yet some of you see it as propaganda for your nazi cause. Well Russel Crowe is no skinhead so don't dilude yourself. Gman said it perfectly, and honestly can't you skinheads do some historical research and see that racism is as ancient as the egyptians and is THE most self-destructive variable a nation can come upon. Me being an american, am proud of our diversity and do not agree that there is a white plight. Just a southern redneck plight."
From: "?"
"The final gang battle between the Vietnamese and the nazi skin heads reminded me of war stories from Korea I read as a child. The Vietnamese kept coming and coming more and more while the skinheads heavily outnumbered kept falling back and getting picked off one by one until you wondered it anyone would survive. I did however find the Vietnamese to be alot more sympathetic then the ccf. "
From: "auSSie88"
"This movie should make Australians aware of the growing invasion of non-whites holy sanctified by the Australian Government which is nothing but a ZOG affiliate. Wise up and become aware of the fight, and don't rely so heavily on the skins to protect YOU, but help them."
Editor's note: It was a difficult decision to post the above comment. I own this site and am free to pick and choose any comments submitted for posting. Thus far, it has been my policy to post any opinion. I didn't want to shift from that policy merely because of an expressed ignorance. Perhaps "auSSie88" should consider what the Aboriginal people of Australia would think of the invasion of "non-whites" that he refers to. I don't think that the Aboriginal people would see the "invaders" as "non-whites". If "auSSie88" would like to experience what the sting of racism must feel like, perhaps he could meet up with someone who would refer to the gene pool from which he sprung as "defective". If he is a "native" white Australian, he can probably count murderers and thieves among his lineage, what with the penal colony history that Australia is famous for. Hate is not glamorous. I fear that "auSSie88" is truly delusional if he thinks that any of us look to the "skins" for protection. A thug is a thug is a thug. "We are 1-World."
From: "Hustler"
"F@*kin brilliant it's the best film i have ever seen"
From: "MAD MAC"
"AT THE TIME I SEEN THE FILM I WAS 15 AND VERY IMPRESSIONABLE. ME AND THE LADS LOVED
THE FILM THAT MUCH THAT WE ALL SHAVED OUR HEADS, WORE 14 HOLER D.M's, AND BOMBER JACKETS.
I GOT THE SOUND TRACK ON IMPORT, CAUSE I WAS INTO PUNK AND OI MUSIC ANY WAY..........THE
FILM IS SUFUCKINGPERB BY THE WAY."
From: "Jodie Atterbury"
"The film was both interesting and entertaining. Although I do not agree with the
views of the skins and think that it gives uneducated audiences fuel to link all skins to
racism - the film was very much needed. I would hope that a positive movie about skinheads
would follow. Also, the music was excellent! Oi Oi Oi !!! If anyone knows where to get the
soundtrack please contact me!!! We cannot find it in the United States.
Cheers!" "Jodie Atterbury@shsd.org"
From: "HateMonger"
"1 World?","Tell me, recently how meny whites have moved to bantu land or
to riceville? It's not freedom these turds are after, it's freebies. Until I see whites
moving to bantuland or riceville, please don't babble about ""1
world"" geez, what planet are you from and please, don't babble about
""equality of"" these bastards make ghettos out of whatever they
touch, and are protected by treasonous white governments who's leadership is hell bend on
leveling every white majority country into the turd world sewer.
And about romperstomper, romper stomper tried to show skinheads as being motivated by
their pricks. In real life I could assure you, a junky bitch turned in some skins and
caused one of their deaths, the rest of them would have beaten her to a pulp. Just my
humble view of what would have happened."
From: "SICK_BOY"
"i really enjoyed the movie and thought it was great. i am really after a pic of the
tatoo that was on russel crows arm and up to his neck,if anyone has it can you seed it to
me ...thanks alot SICK_BOY."
From: "Matt"
"I loved the Movie Romper Stomper, it showed the real life of skinheads and how true they are to their race. The music was great, someone has to stand up for the white race and the movie does a great job showing who does."
From: "I AM THE FRANK !"
"I loved the film - we were studying it for Film Studies over here in England, the film was so good I'm gonna buy a copy real fast. As for the content, I find it incredible so many racists can see the film and come to this site to say, like in the above comment, ""someone has to stand up for the white race and the movie does a great job showing who does."" What the hell is this guy on? I think sane people can rest easily in their beds knowing it appears that racists will rally under anything about racism at all, whether it's for or against their beliefs (for the record, 'Matt', the film was actually anti-racist, okay? Best go home now, your milk and honey's getting cold)"
From: "Bazil Brush Boom Boom"
"Skinhead Skinheads Skinheads Fuck U. For me this is one of the films that you have to see, just to help you to try and understand the mentality of racist white supremists. Russell Crowe plays Hando, the leader of a group of Australian skinheads who take out their racism on the Chinese throughout the film. Crowe is outstanding in one of his more grittier roles, and he is backed up with a believable supporting cast. Many scenes of gratuitous violence in the film, help to portray the shocking reality of racial tension around the world. A great film and not to be missed!"
From: "Suzy Sinless"
"Romper Stomper is an EXCELLENT movie. Everyone dies at the end!!! Can it get any
better?"
From: "GMan"
"Romper Stomper a splendid film and an even better soundtrack that I managed to get
on import. For me the film represents the alienation, felt by most whites in urban areas
and created by blurred-vision governments, which forces whites to seek unity to fight
against something they feel is going wrong. While skinheads may be the fighting soldiers
or the visible side of the revolt and exasperation felt by whites around the world,
remember that there are millions who may be saying nothing publicly but definitely
approve. See what is happening in Kosovo and what caused the media-favourite
""Holocaust"": Albanian refugees took over Kosovo, their malice
persecuted Serbs and forced their revolt: the consequences are grossly exaggerated daily
on your national newspapers. Jews in the late 20s and 30s abused their position of power
to the detriment of Germans until someone noticed and kicked the shit out of them. Well,
whites will soon realise what is happening to them, with the blessing of their
governments, and their revolt will be terrible, horrible and merciless. Skinheads have
started the fight, the rest will promptly join in.
Finally why is Gabe's character sympathetic? She fucked everything up. Druggies cannot be
trusted and should be corrected."
From: "Lelsey & Cass"
"We really like this movie. We weren't quite sure what the intentions of this movie were.
We don't see it as promoting naziism. We sort of saw it as opposing it, or showing what
that kind of lifestyle can be like. Anyways... we thought it was a great movie... oh ya..
we were very happy when Davie and Gabrielle got together."
From: "Emily"
"I'm studying Romper Stomper at the moment at uni.... For those people above me, the
movie is anti-racial, it aims to gain an awareness of racial tension and show how
self-destructive rascism is. Personally, I dunno if I really enjoy the movie all
that much, maybe thats cause I'm writing an essay on it! But anyhow, the soundtrack
definately has some entertainment value! By the way, I think that
""Matt"" who thinks we should turn to skins is an absolute
wanker!"
From: "Gman"
"Emily, you say you are studying the film at University so it must be true
that the film is supposed to represent how self-destructive racism is. That is a very
shallow analysis in its concept because for one, in the film it isn't racism that destroys
them but the intrusion of Gabe, a foreign body from the Skin-Head culture, within their
little group and her treason. Secondly, saying that racism is self-destructive is an easy
analysis to make since the term ""racism"" is by definition negative
so most people would accept: ""yeah..racism...bad...self-destructive..."
One could turn the table round and say that it is the will to save their people
(forget the term race for a moment as it is also, wrongly, perceived negatively by most
people) that drives them to fight. Would you call the fight for liberty self-destructive?
Writing an essay where you will just state the obvious to the marker will not get
you a good mark (unless you're studying at a Polytechnic in the UK), try thinking of the
reasons driving Hando and his boys to do the things they do. Did the devil give them the
""spell of racism"" that turns them into monsters? Do they have
a political point at all?"
Think about it. Regards, "Gman"
From: "Kev.G."
"There are some interesting views and comments on your page. I, like
""Emily"", am researching an essay on Romper, of course it's going to
mention racism, it's unavoidable given the film's context. What I really want to get to
grips with are audiences reactions to this film, how they respond to the films violent
depiction of racial issues and who/what they identify as protagonist, villain and overall
message, and why?.
I think that responses will vary from country to country especially in contrast of Aussie
and English reception. Anyone with any pointers and views on this, feel free to contact (v0167kg@solent.ac.uk) I'm open to suggestion.
Just one more thing... ""Nazi Punks Fuck Off"" -Jello Biaffra (Dead
Kennedys)."
From: "NSW_Boot_Boy"
"I believe that ""Romper Stomper"" is the best Australian film of all time. It brought to light the plight of the working class white Australian, and that not all of us will turn a blind eye to the constant influx of non-white immigrants into this great country that is Australia. We must stop this wave, we must stand up and show the rest of the world that we are not the dumping ground for inferior races, the reason for this is because and I quote the film, ""I don't want to end up like the Aborigine, a prisoner in my own country"."
From: "CaliSkinByrd"
"Well Romper Stomper is a good movie, though I wish someone would consider making a
movie about the Non and Anti Racist Skinheads against the White Power.Its true that there
are many White Power skinheads,but don't forget us! The working class patriotic youth
cult. Remeber our presence keeps many of the nazi skins under control! "
From: "auSSie88"
"No matter what you think.......pro-white thinking lives and breathes.......remember that when things start to get a little hot in whatever area you live in........regardless of country.....the dawn of a new day is coming.....let it be our and not "theirs"........"
From: "Johan"
"Great movie!! The best I've ever seen!!"
From: "Jan Kruger"
"The truth, it may hurt."
"If history shows us one thing, it is that when things get bad, there is a tendency to look outwards and blame others. Why? Because its easier than the unpalatable fact that it is your own fault that you don't have the lifesyle many immigrants have worked hard for. By spouting the ignorant propaganda you are spoon fed you are showing yourselves for what you are: gullible, lazy, low IQ thugs. You don't understand therefore you fear, therefore you hate. You can't dismiss me easily either, I am a white South African and I know all about racial hatred. Did you meatheads even know that your precious aryan race comes from asia originally. Buy some books and stop embarrassing yourselves. Oh and one more thing, on behalf of the white 'race' the only thing we need protecting from is you. Great film by the way."
From: "Gman"
"Hey, Kruger, should we blame ourselves for not feeling at home in our home country?"
From: "GarretB"
"Notes on Racism in Australia","To the people in Australia that fear a
non-white invasion...Australia seems to have been Colonized by 'criminals'
Aboriginal people have more right to land than 'white' Australians.
'white' people have a long history of destroying indigenous people...aboriginal/American
Indians.
I agree with the editor, everything should be posted but footnotes are needed to clarify
the reasoning behind the posting of ignorance neo-fascist/simple-minded/pathetic rhetoric.
1world is a future that is as possible as Utopia but the goal that we should strive for at
all cost...not the intentional segregation and genocide that social degenerates try to
propagate. In addition, Romper Stomper is certainly a anti-fascist film"
From: "Jakes"
"Excellent excellent film. It blows away American History X, the sensationalized american film. Whether intentional or not, the film brings to light the problem of immigration. I am an American, and my family has lived here for 300 years. we formed this nation on the prospect of hope and sucess, and now spics are flooding in from all sides and shitting all over us. It makes me ashamed to be an American when I hear that Whites will be the minority within 20 years. And once were dead, Europe will be next! KKK rednecks are just religious morons, it is the Nazi Skins who are on the right path. Could someone please tell me what bands played on the films soundtrack? thanks."
From: "auSSie88"
"Garret B is a target sitting on a fence, you liberal piece of shit!!!!! I hope you end up as by product snorted from a MILO can........."
From: "Nina"
"Oi! Oi! Oi!","I fuckin' loved this movie the very first time I saw it, many of the kidz I saw it with couldn't handle the harsh reality of it. But I could, I think it was a amazing, but I also think someone needs to make a GOOD movie about skins- either about Trads. or S.H.A.R.P's.....showing that there is a positive side. Because the majority of people out there only know skinheads for being racist assholes........but anywayz, GREAT MOVIE!!!! ""Not all skins are racist!""- Agnostic Front""
From: "bodyhammer88"
"In reference to ""Nina"", not all racists are skinheads, illiterate, toothless, date their cousins or live in trailor parks. The former grouping, ""skinheads"" have in general been not unlike brown shirt SA men, uneducated and brutally violent.....a street reaction..as was seen in Romper Stomper. Doesn't your wonderful, fluffy world-view cringe at the realization that many skinheads and a great many very educated and professional people are waking up and becoming warriors, defending white-culture and survival? Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come.....no matter what you believe about World War 2, or who the victors say the victors were."
From: "hcmas"
"I am doing an assignment on Romper Stomper for a subject called Culture in
Australia. I believe the movie says indirectly alot about australian culture. As a race we
have always made the most of what we have, in the movie the skinheads use an old workshop
as their home. The skinheads protect the women in the film and bubs, when they go the get
the asians they tell the girls and bubs to stay. Protecting women and children has always
been part of australian history, part of australian people. Skinheads are all loyal to
each other in the film, this is another quality that we pride our selves on. I believe
that the film recognises that the white people took the land from aboriginals and now
white people don't want asians doing the same to use that our ancesters did to the
aboriginals. If anyone has more thoughts about what the film says about australian culture
email at HCMAS1@student.monash.edu.au
"
From: "LoUnGeChAiR"
"Reading everyone else's responses to this movie was very interesting. Some took the movie as a representation of white supremacy while others saw it as a negative portrayal of skinhead culture. I'm more inclined to agree with the latter.The fact that this movie can give two opposing messages is certainly a reflection on how clever this movie is. Any movie that makes a person think-really THINK- has got my vote as a good movie. As for all the comments I've read, I think they're all valid viewpoints because they are someone's own truths. They may not be yours, or mine, but to someone they have meaning. Using internet noticeboards to get into extended fights which descend to name-calling and cheap shots is a waste of time and effort. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions without having to constantly defend them."
From: "sez (New Zealand)"
"I have just read the comments on the movie Romper Stomper. I have seen this film many times and believe it shows much appreciation of ones own kind and the fight for their rights to express their own opinion. I saw this when I was young and at a time when I was discovering my own beliefs. This film showed me only an example of what goes on in the mind of a true believer(s) but this film did not clearly show what has influenced these skins beliefs example, childhood upbringing, their family beliefs or their education. I support anyone who stands up for what they believe in and except others points of views as you would expect them to respect and accept yours."
From: "k8ybyrd"
"I loved this movie. not because its a skinhead movie but because its a typical movie about lowsy friends leavin for a stupid gurl. she wasnt even a skinhead. friends are so important, the movie taught my friends and crew alot about being there. bros before hoes, chicks before dicks!! oi!88"
From: "ca skin"
"being a skinhead has nothing to do with racism. i'm a skinhead, and white, but some of my best friends are asians, phillippinos, and mexicans. a skinhead is just a proud, working class kid. some skins, just like any other subculture happen to be racist. unfortunately, that's just the way things work. to everyone that supports the idea of making a film about skinheads in general and not just self proclaimed "fourth-reich nazis", i'm right there with you. OI!"
From: "sg"
"I come from a small coastal town in mid-east Australia. I grew up with knowing aboriginals as well as knowing local rednecks. The aboriginals never treated us like we didn't belong in their pub, so why should suburbian neo-nazis in the city treat the Vietnamese like they don't belong at their pub. Aboriginals have been here over 40, 000 years. Europeans - 212 years. (less than 1% of time) As for Germans, they quite happily killed Australians, so if you follow Hitler, what are you? Shouldn't you go live in Germany? I'd like to think Romper Stomper pulls people out of shallow skin level thinking. But if you are determined to see a pure white world, don't hold your breath...or actually..... please do!!!"
From: "?"
"Bollocks to all this political arguing","Who give a shit about racism cause no ones listening to you boneheads out there. Using all this political arguing sucks ass. Romper stomper gives some awareness to the naive anyone who believes in a master race is a fool cause if their race is the best how come Germans lost the wars and how come they dont control anything. Be proud of your heritige an all but it doesnt make you better than the next race. If any of you duncy assed racists noticed most skinhead bands arnet racist so find your own scene and keep preaching as long as you want cause no ones listening, youve all got nothing to say but you still say it unfortunately. Buy the way 2 world wars and one world cup is where my ancestors come from England and I see nothing superior about that. And you white Aryan Resistance boys are mostly just english decendants without a german in your blood so stop trying to be what your not. ah ha."
From: "Superabaday"
"The Truth", "I am lebanese and I am proud of it.
In lebanon people of more than 20 different religions and origins lived together to create the most beautiful country in the world.
Instead of hatred it is an ideology of unity beetween us that has always risen from the ashes through the centuries.
Our war was a simple reaction of the western world against our ideology of unity of the arab people ... helm el arab.
Racism comes from your fear.
We know not fear but only pride in our homeland.
Long live lebanon."
From: "Hairyscotsman"
"MOST OF THE COMMENTS SEEM TO HAVE DESCENDED TO DIATRIBE
AS THE COVER OF THE VIDEO STATES THE FILM IS ABOUT THE BLIND HATRED OF YOUTH, ALL YOUTH, ANY COLOUR, ITS HORMONAL AND ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ""TRIBE"" A CONCEPT FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN MUCH OF TODAYS SOCIETY. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE FASICM IS INCREDIBLY STUPID ON A GENETIC LEVEL AS ITS MERELY A FORM OF INBREEDING. WE ALL EVOLVED FROM A SMALL GENE POOL IN THE LAST 100,OOO YEARS THE BEST THING TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR GENE POOL IS SPREAD THEM ABOUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ALLTHE DIFFERENT RACES AND SUBRACES ARE DIFFERENT FOR VARIOUS REASONS IN HISTORY WHITES HAVE LIGHTER BONE STRUCTURES SO ARE BETTER SWIMMERS WEST INDIANS HAVE MORE DEVELOPED BACK MUSCLES SO MAKE BETTER CRICKETERS KENYANS EVOLVED AT HIGH ALTITUDE SO MAKE BETTER LONG DISTANCE RUNNERS...VIVE LE DIFFERANCE! THE FILM ALSO FOCUSES ON TRUST (WITH THE GIRL) AND HOW TRUST IS ABUSED AND HOW THE ABUSER ABUSES."
From: "Pip"
"I was struck by the small intelligence of most of the movies
commentators. I was glad to see that there were some comments by people who
realised that the movie was certainly Not For 'Racists' or Skinheads.
I was searching the web to find the end theme song from the movie when I
stumbled apon this site. I find it incredible, though not surprising, that such
beleifs still exist.
I cheer to all that 'I am the Frank' said. I also could not get over the disgust
I felt at my own past transgressions. I once did hang around with some skin
heads. I wanted to know what made them tick, and got sucked in...not by their
hatred, but by their weakness. Thankfully I could no longer stand their
destructive, useless, detrimental behaviour, and grew out of their company, and
beyond.
Anyway, I guess we will never be without such people. We must just have the hope
that good will prevail the onslaught of evil."
Hand Painted Furniture
Accent Furniture
visit..
1-World Decor
