Samson & Delilah

2009

1 hr. 41 min.

Drama

Romance

List

95%

56 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A couple's world changes forcing them to go on a journey of survival.

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Critics Consensus

Alternately beautiful and heartrending, Samson and Delilah is terrifically acted and shot, and presents a complex portrait of what it means to be Australian.

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Tabitha O

For me, the great strength of this powerful story is the statement it makes about how to approach life. Frivolous Samson, who drifts about trying to amuse himself, while the serious, earnest Delilah spends her days caring for her grandmother. There's not much leisure in Delilah's young life; only in the evenings does she get to listen to her music and dream her dreams. Yet in the end we see Delilah triumphant, powerful and strong, overcoming obstacles and succeeding. I thought it was a very, very powerful message to young people everywhere, especially in these days of helicopter parenting, and beautifully portrayed. The almost total absence of dialogue subtly shows the disempowered position of our First Nations people.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Lachlan D

Utterly captivating. The two main characters are compelling and you really form a bond with them. The film's honest, stripped back, quiet style pulls you in. I loved how subtle it was, yet fully confronting too. Overall, harrowing but uplifting frankly and completely relevant. It's a very brutal portrait of contemporary Aussie society, one of inequality, misunderstanding and ignorance, but with the gentle love between S & D keeping things from spiraling truly into chaos. One of the best films I've seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Very depressing, scenery and honesty was good. Not an enjoyable movie though.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

tHey called this a love story but in reality it was a badly thought out film where people struggled to understand the storyline. and what it means to be Australian?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

mike v

AACTA Classic Australian film

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I enjoyed this film. Thornton allows the audience to engage and relate with the characters Samson and Delilah and provides us with a visual masterpiece. The way that the non voco-centric scenes allow the aesthetic elements to stand out shows that Thornton has a talent and does this like no other director. It provides the audience with a close-quarters, fearlessly told story between two young and naive Indigenous children. The story is sad, happy and all things unique. Do yourself a favour and watch this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Warwick Thornton

Director

Marissa Gibson

Delilah

Mitjili Napanangka Gibson

Nana

Scott Thornton

Gonzo

Matthew Gibson

Actor

Peter Bartlett

Actor

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Critics Consensus: Red Is Hot Stuff

Samson and Delilah wins Camera d’Or at Cannes

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David Stratton

The Australian

Anyone who cares about Australian cinema should see this film. I’d go further and suggest that anyone who cares about Australia should see it. Samson and Delilah is, quite simply, one of the finest films ever made in this country.

Jan 3, 2024

Full Review

Tom Long

Detroit News

This lovely, aching film opts for romance in the face of modern ruin.

Rated: B+

Feb 25, 2011

Full Review

Cliff Doerksen

Chicago Reader

This sterling 2009 debut by Warwick Thornton is harrowing and tragic but has a stoic, stately realism that elevates the material way above victim politics.

Jan 4, 2011

Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Outdated gender politics and iffy animal antics aside, this is a solid retelling elevated by a great performance.

Mar 12, 2024

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

Stuff.co.nz

This is one of my favourite Australian films of all time. Maybe even the favourite.

Jul 8, 2022

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

This is a haunting and heartbreaking tale that almost rivals the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas for its sheer sense of hopelessness and descent into darkness.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

A couple's world changes forcing them to go on a journey of survival.

Director: Warwick Thornton
Screenwriter: Warwick Thornton
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (DVD): Feb 23, 2010