Touch the Sun – Devil’s Hill

Clip 3: The death of Bow-ra

3 min 6 sec

Taken from the TV program Touch the Sun – Devil’s Hill (c1988)

Original title classification G – this clip chosen to be G

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Curator’s clip description

Badge (Alexander ‘Mathew’ Jacobs) and Sam (Cameron Atkins), find that Bow-ra, the family’s milking cow has been badly injured in a storm. Her back is broken and Jessie (Mary Haire) cannot help her. Jessie has to shoot the cow to put her out of her pain and Badge is distraught. Sam (Cameron Atkins) and Bron (Emma Pugh) try to help Sheppie (Jane McArthur) deal with what has happened.

Curator’s notes

The shooting scene is sensitively done, indicating what happens without sensationalising it, but at the same time not shying away from the pain and anguish of the situation. The discussion by the three cousins about whether animals go to heaven is a lighter moment at the end of the clip which tempers the emotional intensity and the shock of this scene.

Annemaree O'Brien, curator

australian screen