Titles tagged with ‘Aboriginal culture’
37 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year
1890s
Torres Strait Islanders historical – 1898
A national treasure: the oldest film made of Torres Strait Islanders and of Aboriginal people. This film deserves national and international cultural icon status.
1940s
Aborigines of the Sea Coast documentary – 1948
A valuable ethnographic record of a 1948 expedition to Arnhem Land.
1950s
Fighting Blood documentary – 1951
This Cinesound documentary highlights the talents of Australian fighters, including Aboriginal boxers Alfie Clay, Elley Bennett and Dave Sands.
The Phantom Stockman feature film – 1953
A bushman known as ‘the Sundowner’ helps cattle station heiress Kim Marsden investigate the death of her father.
1960s
Wandjina! – Episode 5 television program – 1966
Strange events occur when people search for two boys missing in the bush.
A Big Country – Peninsula People television program – 1968
An early episode of this iconic series. A Big Country aimed to bring country Australia into the lives of urban Australians.
1970s
Walkabout feature film – 1970
A 16-year-old English girl and her 8-year-old brother are stranded in the desert, after their father shoots himself. They are rescued by a young tribal Aborigine.
Mad Dog Morgan feature film – 1976
Mad Dog Morgan updates the bushranging movie conventions, by seeing Morgan as a modern media phenomenon.
Backroads short feature – 1977
Backroads (1977) is the first feature (albeit, a short one) by Phillip Noyce, who would go on to make Newsfront (1978) and Rabbit-Proof Fence.
1980s
Touch the Sun – Top Enders television program – 1988
This lovely production captures the exotic frontier feel of Darwin, as it explores human survival and the challenges and rewards of family relationships and friendship.
1990s
Blackout – Malangi: A Day in the Life of a Bark Painter television program – 1991
A portrait of the internationally acclaimed Arnhem Land artist David Malangi, highly regarded in both Yolngu and western cultural traditions.
Bran Nue Dae documentary – 1991
There’s nothing I would rather be than to be an Aborigine’ is probably the most famous line from the successful stage musical.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert feature film – 1994
The most unforgettable scenes in Priscilla feature excessive costumes on incongruous characters in vast, humbling spaces.
2000s
Message Stick – Bill’s Wake television program – 2001
Bill Neidjie, a traditional owner of Kakadu, had a wake while he was alive, rather than waiting until his death, to hear what people wanted to say about him.
Whispering in Our Hearts documentary – 2001
Remembering those who were murdered in the 1918 massacre of Aboriginal people at Mowla Bluff is very much to do with healing.
Message Stick – Kurtal: Snake Spirit television program – 2002
A beautiful story about Kurtal, an ancestor and Dreaming song, and the Elder Spider, whose responsibility it is to perform the dance as well as pass it on.
The Dream and the Dreaming documentary – 2003
When Lutheran missionaries arrived in Central Australia, the strength of the existing culture made it challenging to make converts.
Message Stick – Arafura Pearl television program – 2003
This is a snapshot of the Mills family, a respected family in the Darwin area. Kathleen is an Indigenous Elder, mother of eight, musician and singer.
Message Stick – Child Artists of Carrolup television program – 2003
This episode provides another perspective on the child removal policies and how the government of the day had specific designs on how half-caste children would occupy a place in society.
Message Stick – Macumba: Outside Looking In television program – 2003
Macumba tells the story of Australia’s first Aboriginal radio station, the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA).
Message Stick – Wathaurong Glass television program – 2003
Wathaurong Glass is an initiative that not only creates a new way of expressing Aboriginal art, but also provides a service to the community from which it comes.
Deadly Yarns – Ganggu Mama short film – 2004
In this short film, Ganggu Mama guides his nephew towards his culture and out of trouble.
Karli Jalangu – Boomerang Today documentary – 2004
The making of the number seven boomerang is not a hurried process, but measured and multifaceted. Every step of the procedure has meaning.
Sammy Butcher, Out of the Shadows documentary – 2004
Musician Sammy Butcher played with the Warumpi Band and now invests his energy in young musicians in his community of Papunya.
Warren H Williams, the stories, the songs documentary – 2004
Inspired by his musical family, Arrernte musician Warren H Williams became a singer-songwriter himself.
Merrepen documentary – 2005
Women from the Nauiya community 'are painting our stories and making things’ to practise cultural knowledge and pass on and preserve traditions.
Message Stick – Babinda Boulders television program – 2005
The story of the Devils Pool, recounted by Yidinji elder Annie Wonga, is an ancient love story. Young men fall victim to a waterhole where the spirit of a woman dwells.
Message Stick – Scotty Martin, Rodeo Boy, Don’t Say Sorry television program – 2005
A story about songman Scotty Martin, who inherited the role of composer of songs, a repository of knowledge passed from generation to generation.
Agnes Abbott: Hard Worker documentary – 2006
An Eastern Arrernte woman’s journey from mustering cattle to performing at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
At The Movies – Series 2 Episode 20, Ten Canoes television program – 2006
Margaret reviews Ten Canoes, a story of forbidden love and bloody retribution, followed by an interview with director Rolf de Heer and co-creator David Gulpilil.
Crocodile Dreaming short film – 2006
A short film highlighting the role of traditional custodians in maintaining balance between the natural and spiritual worlds.
Sunset to Sunrise (ingwartentyele – arrerlkeme) documentary – 2006
A yarn told by Rupert Max Stuart, an Arrernte and Mu-tujulu Elder, encapsualing his philosophies about passing culture on and keeping it alive.
Wirrangul Women: Always Have, Always Will documentary – 2006
Elders Doreen and Gladys are the last speakers of the Wirangu language. They must find a way to pass their language and tradition on to younger generations.
The Circuit – It’s a Long Way Home television program – 2007
A fresh look at the interaction between the court system and Aboriginal people living in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Deadly Yarns 3 – Who Paintin’ Dis Wandjina? short film – 2007
When a Perth artist uses traditional iconography as graffiti, the traditional owners are not impressed.
Double Trouble – Episode 7 television program – 2007
Double Trouble has entertaining and likeable characters and boasts an experienced cast. It also wonderfully captures an Indigenous sensibility and humour.
Tnorala: Baby Falling documentary – 2007
An ancient central Australian dreaming story about the formation of a large meteorite crater in the Northern Territory.
