All titles in the ‘Biography’ genre
178 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 3 4 next
D (continued)
Desert Walker: Gulf to Gulf documentary – 1985
The Flying Doctor base helped Denis Bartell when he became the first white man to walk across Australia from north to south.
Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky documentary – 2001
Vaslav Nijinsky, from Russia, was widely considered the most talented male dancer of the 20th century.
Difficult Pleasure: A Portrait of Brett Whiteley documentary – 1989
Artist Brett Whiteley says many 'gifted people shipwreck’ ; he died from a drug overdose three years later.
Dig A Million, Make A Million television program – 1968
Lang Hancock, nicknamed ‘the flying prospector’ for aerial prospecting with his naked eye, and Peter Wright find Australia’s richest iron ore deposit.
Don Bradman in England newsreel – 1930
Don Bradman is interviewed in 1930. This informal interview also gives him the chance to effectively demonstrate his batting technique.
Dreamtime, Machinetime documentary – 1987
There are strict rules about who can and can’t tell certain stories in indigenous culture, these distinguished artists reveal.
Driving Home short film – 1999
In this animated short film, a young Korean immigrant struggles to define her cultural identity.
Dynasties – The Murdochs television program – 2001
A portrait of a very close-knit family. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation is the last of the world’s great media empires controlled by a family dynasty.
Dynasties – The Rose Family television program – 2003
Leading Collingwood AFL player Bob Rose combined the will to win with a great humility, qualities rarely found today in our top sportspeople.
E
Episodes in Disbelief short film – 2000
This short animation is a reflection on childhood loss as the narrator attempts to come to terms with the death of her father.
Eternity documentary – 1994
Cinematographer Dion Beebe has beautifully recreated 1930s Sydney here — and about 10 years later won an Oscar.
F
Feeling Sexy short feature – 1998
A young woman struggles to maintain her creativity within the confines of her new marriage and motherhood.
Fighting Blood documentary – 1951
This Cinesound documentary highlights the talents of Australian fighters, including Aboriginal boxers Alfie Clay, Elley Bennett and Dave Sands.
Forbidden Lie$ documentary – 2007
Do you want the truth or what I said?’- a real-life thriller about author Norma Khouri’s defence against claims that Forbidden Love is a fraud.
A Fortunate Life television program – 1985
While most viewers will be aware of a strong note of irony underlying the story, there is no doubt that in the final analysis it is one of hope, endurance and faith in humanity.
Frank Hurley: The Man Who Made History documentary – 2004
An excellent look at the man who produced some of Australia’s first documentaries, and some of our most iconic images.
Frontline documentary – 1979
Combat cameraman and correspondent, Neil Davis worked at the extreme front-line, capturing memorable images of the Vietnam war, taken under fire.
Funny by George: The George Wallace Story documentary – 1999
An untrained actor with a talent for stand up comedy, George Wallace’s first job was with Happy Harry Salmon’s travelling show.
G
George Dreyfus: A Portrait documentary – 1984
Composer George Dreyfus marks this portrait with his own whimsical style, showing how lively biography can be when the subject is prepared to satirise himself.
Gillies documentary – 1987
Max Gillies, probably best know for his portrayal of Bob Hawke, feels more confident and secure when he creates a character to hide behind.
A Girl, a Horse, a Dream documentary – 2003
This documentary follows the top Australian female jockey for a year to see if men and women can compete equally in horseracing.
Girl in a Mirror: A Portrait of Carol Jerrems documentary – 2005
Carol Jerrems, who photographed Melbourne subcultures in the 1970s, unsentimentally documents her own decline from terminal illness polycythemia.
God’s Girls: Stories from an Australian Convent documentary – 1992
The Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy give full access to the filmmakers to explore and question those who choose a religious life.
The Good Looker documentary – 1995
Joy Hester’s emotionally disturbing and challenging work mainly deals with the relationships between men and women. Her genius is now gaining wider recognition.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugg Boot documentary – 2006
A David and Goliath conflict over brand ownership between a small business and an American corporate giant.
Green Tea and Cherry Ripe documentary – 1989
A portrait of Japanese women who came to Australia as war brides after the Second World War, and their experiences in an alien land.
H
The Harold Holt Mystery documentary – 1985
On 17 December 1967 Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach, Victoria. This docudrama reconstructs Holt’s last days and examines controversial theories surrounding his death.
Helen’s War: Portrait of a Dissident documentary – 2003
Filmmaker Anna Brionowski follows her aunt, anti-nuclear activist Dr Helen Caldicott, for a year to capture the feelings of frustration and urgency of a 30-year campaign.
Hellfire Jack: The John Curtin Story documentary – 1985
A portrait of John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia from 1941 to 1945.
Hephzibah documentary – 1998
Levy has painted a portrait of a woman ahead of her time – musician Hephzibah Menuhin was imperfect, passionate, talented and driven by a humanitarian instinct.
Homelands: View from the Edge documentary – 1993
In his first exploration of the migration experience, Zubrycki poses the question ‘When the fighting stops, how do you make choices about where you want to live?’.
Home of the Blizzard documentary – 1998
This documentary is an excellent portrayal of the adverse conditions of Antarctica.
Hunt Angels documentary – 2006
This dramatised documentary is about the life of 1930s filmmakers Rupert Kathner and Alma Brooks who were passionate about bringing Australian stories to the cinema.
I
I Can Jump Puddles television program – 1981
Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Alan Marshall, this story of struggle and courage has become a classic Australian tale.
In Limbo documentary – 2002
Australian lawyer Hoi Trinh attempts to secure citizenship for 2,000 Vietnamese 'boat people’. Thirty-seven families are resettled, the rest remain in limbo.
Interview with Archbishop Mannix television program – 1962
Interviewed at age 97, Dr Daniel Mannix, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, was a man of considerable influence in Australian public life.
In the Mind of the Architect – Episode One: Keeping the Faith television program – 2000
How many of us would be prepared to change in a cupboard each day rather than compromise the architect’s vision? A showcase of contemporary architecture.
The Isabellas: The Long March documentary – 1995
Political events in China are humanised through refugee Chen Xing Liang, with his softly spoken determination to live in a democracy.
I Told You I Was Ill: The Life and Legacy of Spike Milligan documentary – 2004
Milligan’s affection for Australia, particularly the suburb of Woy Woy which he quips is a great place to commit suicide, had a significant impact on his life.
It’s Ruth: Ruth Cracknell, Actor documentary – 1994
It’s Ruth begins as a romp with Ruth as Maggie Beare through some of the zaniest scenes of Mother and Son, and ends with her as Winnie in Happy Days.
J
Jabe Babe: A Heightened Life documentary – 2005
This imaginative documentary tells the story of a dominatrix with Marfan syndrome. It examines Jabe’s experiences in foster care and questions society’s obsession with perfection and conformity.
Jimmy Little’s Gentle Journey documentary – 2006
Jimmy Little’s softly softly style came under scrutiny during the heyday of 1970s Indigenous politics.
K
A Kid Called Troy documentary – 1993
This is the story of the last year of 8-year-old Troy’s life as he lives with AIDS and struggles to be brave in the face of pain and death.
Kylie Tennant documentary – 1986
Determined to experience at firsthand the lives of her characters, Tennant travelled alone in her buggy, camping with swagmen and destitute families.
L
Last Plane Out of Berlin documentary – 1999
At ten years of age, Sidney Cotton designed an aircraft. At 18, this Queensland country boy built a car he called 'the Cotton’.
Least Said, Soonest Mended documentary – 1999
When she was 16, Val had a baby out of wedlock and was coerced to have her adopted out. After 25 years, Val and her daughter make contact.
The Legend of Damien Parer television program – 1964
The life of the legendary Australian combat cameraman Damien Parer, through the eyes of those who knew him and through footage shot before his death in action in 1944.
Letters to Ali documentary – 2004
One family’s willingness to embrace 15-year-old Ali stands in contrast to the media’s portrayal of asylum seekers as ‘terrorists’ or ‘people smugglers’.
The Life and Times of Malcolm Fraser television program – 2004
A portrait of Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister of Australia from 1975 to 1983.
The Life and Times of Margaret Whitlam documentary – 1993
Wife of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, Margaret Whitlam recalls the day that the Governor-General John Kerr sacked her husband on 11 November 1975.
