Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

The Sharkcallers of Kontu (1982)

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clip Doing business education content clip 1, 2

Original classification rating: PG. This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

Three fishermen from the village visit various shops in town to try and sell their shark fins.

Curator’s notes

This clip shows how the sharkcallers use every bit of the shark, dividing it up for the whole community. This is part of the traditional ritual that must be strictly adhered to and, if not, punishment can be expected (they will cease to be helped in catching sharks). But times have changed and hard cash has become a necessary currency in the evolving society. The fins are visible reminders of the sharkcaller’s ability to communicate with his ancestors, but have been removed from the ceremonial men’s house to be sold. Although the fishermen are happy, it is a heartrending scene as money changes hands and the shark fins are gone.