Ghosting in the outback Noir

Who was the ‘jolly swagman’ in Waltzing Matilda, Australia’s unofficial national anthem? In this essay I argue that ghost of swagman can be heard a number recent de-colonising crime narratives. Outback Noir is relatively genre category describes new wave Australian films highlight Indigenous and white relations take revisionist approach to traditional history. These often feature redemption stories effective collaborations between policing practices. Uncovering rural communities’ dark, repressed secrets order solve current problem common trend cinema. examine Patrick Hughes’ 2010 film Red Hill as an early provocative example modern reimaging Matilda narrative with swagman’s avenging exposing social fractures corruption are destroying communities. its focus on revenge-redemption narratives shapes cultural dialogue around putting ghosts colonial past rest.