The moment **Bran Nue Dae** opens, the viewer knows that they have entered a vacation of the mind. The colorful cinematography opens and one thinks they are in the Baptist Church with a great gospel singer. Actually the location is Australia and the music is just as good as the Harlem Gospel Choir. We are introduced to Willie (Rocky McKenzie) who is infatuated with the singer, Rosie
(Jessica Mauboy). The two develop a relationship in their idyllic fishing community, until Big Mama arrives and ships Willie to a religious mission for better education.
Willie crosses academic sabers with Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush), a missionary with many secrets of his own. As the facial plot motivations play out, the music gets better and better. With a cross section of country, blues, Broadway chorus and indigenous sounds of Australia, one will leave **Bran Nue Dae** with a lifted heart.