Simon Baker reveals ‘uncomfortable’ process of filming Australian film High Ground 

‘There were moments when we wanted to throttle each other’: Actor Simon Baker reveals ‘uncomfortable’ process of filming his harrowing new Australian movie High Ground

Simon Baker has described the difficult process of filming his new movie, High Ground. 

Shot in Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory over seven weeks, the unforgiving landscape sometimes had the 51-year-old struggling. 

However, he told told news.com.au on Friday that’s part of the beauty of what was captured on film, and the harrowing story movie tells. 

Tough: Simon Baker (pictured) has described the difficult process of filming his new movie, High Ground. Shot in Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory over seven weeks, the unforgiving landscape sometimes had the 51-year-old struggling

Simon said: ‘It’s pretty wild and this is the beauty. This is the metaphor of the film, and the making of the film, is that it’s not comfortable. 

‘It’s amazing and uncomfortable and beautiful. It doesn’t have to be a good experience or a bad experience. 

‘There were moments when we wanted to throttle each other and you work through it together, and you go through that process and you come out the other side and it’s like love. That’s the journey.’

Difficult: 'There were moments when we wanted to throttle each other and you work through it together, and you go through that process and you come out the other side and it's like love. That's the journey,' he said on Friday. Pictured in High Ground

Difficult: ‘There were moments when we wanted to throttle each other and you work through it together, and you go through that process and you come out the other side and it’s like love. That’s the journey,’ he said on Friday. Pictured in High Ground

Last week, Simon revealed that he plans to ditch filming LA blockbusters in favour of telling important stories from his home land in Australia. 

The Mentalist star told The Courier Mail that filming the new epic High Ground  – which tells a significant story about Aboriginal culture – was one of the ‘greatest privileges’ of his life, and he plans to star in more on the topic in future.

Simon explained that agreeing to the role was motivated by seeing former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition leader Bill Shorten’s response to the Uluru Statement, which called to ensure Indigenous voices would be heard in parliament.

Significant: The film, shot in Kakadu National Park and inspired by true events, tells the story of the aftermath of a brutal massacre of an Indigenous community

Significant: The film, shot in Kakadu National Park and inspired by true events, tells the story of the aftermath of a brutal massacre of an Indigenous community

‘I watched the way that beautiful statement of love was batted around like a political football, and it kind of disheartened me,’ he said. ‘I was amazed at how it was dealt with.’ 

When he offer came forward to star in the movie, Simon felt it could raise awareness about the culture in a way that ‘we haven’t yet seen in film before’. 

The film itself, shot in Kakadu National Park and inspired by true events, tells the story of the aftermath of a brutal massacre of an Indigenous community. 

Simon revealed that he hopes every Australian wants to see High Ground, to ‘sit with it’ and learn more about the past. 

Lessons: Simon revealed that he hopes every Australian wants to see High Ground, to 'sit with it' and learn more about the past

 Lessons: Simon revealed that he hopes every Australian wants to see High Ground, to ‘sit with it’ and learn more about the past

‘It’s an interesting thing,’ he said. ‘You can be criticised in Australia for even bringing these things up. You can be considered ‘Un-Australian’. 

‘I think we should have a little more pride and dignity in who we are,’ he said, before admitting that it ‘isn’t easy’ to own that part of history. 

‘…But to sit in that history, to sit in an uncomfortable space, is a very healing thing for everyone.’ 

The movie also stars Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey, Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr, and will be released in Australian cinemas on January 28. 

Coming soon: The movie also stars Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey, Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr, and will be released in Australian cinemas on January 28

Coming soon: The movie also stars Jack Thompson, Callan Mulvey, Caren Pistorius and Ryan Corr, and will be released in Australian cinemas on January 28