He wanted to tell the story of Aboriginal deaths in custody and chose a thriller format to make the movie as accessible as possible.
[4] From the UK VHS slick for the movie: Streetwise cop Tony Bourke is sent to a small town to complete a routine report on the death of Jimmie Bryant found hanging whilst in police custody.
The local police claim that Bryant committed suicide but the investigation exposes a number of inconsistencies in their story.
In the face of growing suspicion and hostility Bourke befriends the victim’s brother - his cellmate on the night of the killing.
The film received mixed to negative reviews in its limited domestic theatrical release.