IMDb 6.6 1986 HD

The Fringe Dwellers

The Fringe Dwellers

1986
Drama
98 min PG Australia
6 / 10
6.6 IMDB

The story of an Aboriginal family's attempts to forge a new life for themselves within the segregated society. At the urging of headstrong teenager Trilby, the Comeaways relocate…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Bruce Beresford / Mark Egerton / Carolynne Cunningham / Katherine Shaw / Jo Weeks / Jo Weeks
Starring
Ernie Dingo / Justine Saunders / Kristina Nehm / Bob Maza / Kylie Belling / Denis Walker / Malcolm Silva / Marlene Bell

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant resilient challenging authentic moving thoughtful understated important empathetic raw hopeful stark

Reviews

I
Isobel Finch
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that speaks volumes through its quiet moments and the palpable sense of striving. 'The Fringe Dwellers' centres on the Comeaway family's bold decision to relocate, a move driven by Trilby's progressive outlook. The film…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 20, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'The Fringe Dwellers' presents a familiar, yet important, narrative about a family seeking to improve their circumstances by moving into a more integrated society. The impetus for this change, led by the spirited Trilby, is clear, but the…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

In 'The Fringe Dwellers', we witness a poignant and often heart-wrenching depiction of a family navigating the treacherous waters of societal division. The premise is simple yet profound: an Aboriginal family’s move into town, spurred by the fierce…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1986 film, 'The Fringe Dwellers', tackles a crucial aspect of Australian social history with commendable sincerity. The Comeaway family's relocation, driven by Trilby's youthful ambition, forms the backbone of a story grappling with integration and prejudice. While…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A quietly powerful drama, 'The Fringe Dwellers' offers a sensitive portrayal of an Aboriginal family's bid for a new existence within the confines of a segregated town. The narrative, propelled by the headstrong aspirations of teenager Trilby, avoids…

FAQs

'The Fringe Dwellers' holds a significant place in Australian cinema for its direct engagement with the social realities and experiences of Indigenous Australians. It provides a vital narrative exploring the complexities of cultural transition and the impact of societal segregation on families. Its release contributed to broader conversations about representation and the portrayal of Indigenous life on screen.