Based on Chloe Hooper‘s award-winning non-fiction book, The Tall Man looks at the death in custody of an Aboriginal man on Queensland’s Palm Island. In 2004 Cameron Doomadgee died in police cells after being arrested for swearing at a white police officer. The officer in question, Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley claimed that the injuries that caused Mr Doomadgee’s death were the result of a fall during a struggle, however an eyewitness account pointed the finger at police brutality and Hurley. Tony Krawitz‘s documentary traces over the material presented in Hooper’s book, with the author being one of the interviewees. Looking at the troubling history of Palm Island, Hurley’s previous roles in other remote communities and the impact Doomadgee’s death had on the general atmosphere on the island and the devastating personal impact on his family and friends, The Tall Man considers all the ramifications of a death in custody.
This film presents both a tragedy and a travesty. The behaviour of the police force on Palm Island and those sent to investigate Doomadgee’s death was at best incompetent, at worse callous and calculating. But the failings in this case run much deeper than the local police force; the behaviour and actions of the police union and the Queensland government all impeded the Doomadgee family’s right to justice.
A young Cameron Doomadgee (right)
Hooper’s excellent book squeezed out the complexities of this case, with in-depth research into Hurley’s background and the troubling history of Palm Island. Krawitz’s film simply isn’t able to include as much detail, however the documentary’s texture comes from its interviews and visuals. The beautiful, but impoverished Palm Island has been shot fantastically by DoP Germain McMicking and the film’s stunning images are combined with an affecting score by David McCormack and Antony Partos.
Combining the stunning images shot on the island with talking head interviews, news footage and police tapes, the film gives us a chance to witness the world Hooper headed into while researching and writing her book. Hurley refusal to be a part of the film means that we only see him in footage, so representing the police side is Queensland police union official Ian Leavers, who has the gall during his interview to suggest Aboriginal people and police have something in common- they are both struggling minorities! More engaging interview subjects like Elizabeth Doomadgee, Cameron’s sister and Tracy Twaddle, Cameron’s partner offer viewers a unique insight into the personal side of grief and the difficulties in negotiating that pain when no-one has been held accountable. The very charismatic pro-bono lawyer Andrew Boe, who fought to have Hurley prosecuted, offers interesting insights into the legal aspects of the case.
Cameron's brother Lloyd Doomadgee
What happened in the 45 minutes from Doomadgee’s arrest till his death should weigh heavily on Australian audiences. The racial aspects of the story are alarming, so too is the idea that police can act with impunity. A death in custody suggests a failure to hold police up to standards, the subsequent lack of accountability, like in the Doomadgee case, suggests a much bigger failing in the wider society.
The Tall Man is released in Australia on November 17th
Director: Tony Krawitz
