Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Message Stick – Kurtal: Snake Spirit (2002)

play May contain names, images or voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
clip
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Spider education content clip 2

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

The colour of the landscape blends with the vibrancy of a painting superimposed onto the ground. The lone figure of Spider, a Wangkatjungka man, emerges into the frame.

Curator’s notes

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. This highly stylised opening sequence is full of remarkable images that are extremely well photographed and edited and immediately evoke a timeless and mystical mood. The poignant interview, combined with Spider’s paintings, is also highly effective.