It's the summer of 1969 and young Willie (Rocky McKenzie) is filled with the life of the idyllic old pearling port Broome, in the North of Western Australia - fishing, hanging out with his mates, and when he can, his girl Rosie (Jessica Mauboy). However his mother Theresa (Ningali Lawford) has great hopes for him and she returns him to the religious mission in Perth for further schooling. After being punished by Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush) for an act of youthful rebellion, Willie runs away from the mission. But to where... he's too ashamed to go home, it will break his mother's heart. Down on his luck he meets an old fella, who he calls ‘Uncle' Tadpole (Ernie Dingo), and together they...