Unfortunately I found the film in want of a story. It was allegedly to be an exploration of the Lost Generation, Aboriginal children who had been taken off to mission schools (sound like Canada?) where they suffered degradation, assimilation and abuse. What Australia delivered was an overly-long almost farce, almost Australian Western, almost war film, almost serious drama — in short, a confused mess. What’s worse is the film, instead of offering a window into the very rich and ancient Aboriginal culture, continued the Crocodile Dundee Hollywoodization of these people, which is the worst kind of discrimination possible.

Which brings me to Twilight. Didn’t think much of the novel. Watched the DVD out of curiosity, and, yep, the DVD was every bit as fatuous and unsatisfying as the novel.

I am, frankly, gob-smacked this series is the wildly successful phenomenon it is. Has all love of quality disappeared?

I think I’ll take my cranky self off to find something with manna.