The land is sad (1993)
A sweeping aerial view of mountains jutting out of the flat desert-scape. A song of the area plays out in subtitles over the image. An elder tells us about the sacred Ancestor of this area, and his relation to him. [read more]
Zigzag (1978)
Essie Coffey instructs some young people on how to track animals. They are looking for porcupine tracks, and finally find one. A porcupine never walks straight says Essie, but always walks in a zig zag. They follow the porcupine to ... [read more]
Locals cool off at the weir (c1940)
Two boys run and dive into the Dawson River alongside Theodore weir as others look on, some sit on the waters edge. A car drives across the top of the weir as pedestrians cross in the opposite direction. Children splash ... [read more]
What’s so important about an apple? (2002)
The Evil Queen reports a crime. Someone has stolen the poisoned apple she gave to Snow White and she wants it found. Detective Johnny Legend wants to throw her in the ‘slammer’ but the Chief knows that the apple must ... [read more]
Circle justice (2005)
An explanation of the physical and conceptual organisation of the Koori Court. Magistrate Ann Collins explains the informal process of reaching an outcome. Uncle Kevin Coombs speaks of his role as an Elder involved with the Koori Court. [read more]
Capulets and Montagues (1996)
A TV news reporter describes a bitter rivalry in the city of Verona Beach. Engaged in the deadly feud are Romeo’s Montague family and the Capulet family of Juliet. [read more]
Grief is uncharted territory (2001)
Vanessa and Michael discuss the complexities of the grief they felt over the death of their baby daughter, Layla. [read more]
Painters and Dockers strike (1976)
Over a ballad recounting the main events in the Painters and Dockers dispute, a montage of images sets the scene at the Garden Island docks. People with placards and signs enter an inner-city building. In the foyer of the ... [read more]
‘The Sentimental Bloke’ film (2004)
Warren Brown takes us into the vaults of the NFSA to find out why the 1919 silent movie The Sentimental Bloke is regarded as one of the greatest Australian films. [read more]
‘Are you going to hell?’ (2006)
Kenny (Shane Jacobson) takes his son Jesse (Jesse Jacobson) to see his grandfather (Ronald Jacobson), at a trailer park outside Melbourne. On the way, Kenny explains to his son why he doesn’t believe in God. At the mobile home, Kenny’s ... [read more]
Life’s expectations (1997)
An ethnic young man outlines his wishes for life: money, success in business and community respect. [read more]
The right to protest (1999)
Anti-uranium mining protestors explain their role in the Jabiluka blockade. A woman recalls her first arrest and the mines security officer says that he is in favour of protesting for a cause that he may believe in. [read more]
Three friends reunited (2000)
Lorrpu (John Sebastian Pilakui) dreams of when he and his friends were initiated, as Botj (Sean Mununggur) arrives back from three months in jail. Their friend Milika (Nathan Daniels) is a young football star, but he and Lorrpu have been ... [read more]
The editing experiment (2001)
Using Sophie (Gemma Bishop) in her wheelchair to shoot dolly shots ends in tears when Ross (Alex Tsitsopoulos) accidentally tips her out. Meanwhile Oscar (Damien Bodie) shows Anna (Lucia Smyrk) how he has edited the footage he shot of her ... [read more]
Washing feet (1989)
A pair of frail, gnarled feet. The Aboriginal daughter (Marcia Langton) on her hands and knees, gently washes her white mother’s arthritic feet. The Aboriginal woman begins to remember another time, when as a family they would visit the beach. [read more]
Mbantua (2004)
A 60 Minutes crew film Warren H Williams and John Williamson around a campfire as they sing a song about 1,000 feet of people having walked through this land. Warren collaborates with Ted Egan. Warren talks about translating the song ... [read more]
‘Bonza is tops, Bonza is ace!’ (1992)
Poss (Erin Pratten) is astonished when the spruikers from the ‘Bonza’ cereal TV advertisement come right out of the TV set and into the living room. They persuade Poss and her friend Kim (Maria Nguyen) that buying ‘Bonza’ breakfast cereal ... [read more]
Sharing kultcha (2005)
Amber Mercy tells us about her experience of participating in surf competitions around the world. Footage and photographs show surfers from different cultures. [read more]
The last of the Mohicans (1962)
The old 'bottle-oh’ has worked for seven days a week, year in and year out, collecting empties. He’s never used the whip on his mare and talks about her as though she is a person. The iceman is another of ... [read more]
