Strange Birds in Paradise

Share This
0 
+ Comment
0

Credits: Directed by Charlie Hill-Smith

Details: 75 mins , Australia, English

Synopsis: While the Indonesian army continues to dominate the indigenous inhabitants of West Papua, three friends gather in Melbourne to record outlawed folk songs with renowned Australian rock musicologist David Bridie.

Donny Roem is a recent exile. With his two young brothers and 42 other refugees, he crossed the Arafura Sea to Australia in a homemade canoe. Jacob Rumbiak was a child soldier in the West Papuan resistance movement. His moving story is one of oppression, torture and escape. Charlie Hill-Smith, an Australian writer, cartoonist and comedian, is their friend. His passion for contact across cultures has led him to forge close friendships with the Melanesians and the Javanese families he met as a teenage exchange student.

Afloat in an extraordinary musical tradition from the West Papuan highlands, hearing stories of escape, oppression and exile from Jacob and Donny, listening to the defiant songs of murdered musician and independence hero Arnold Ap, Charlie confronts a basic question: how could these two vibrant cultures be at war and how can the rest of the world seemingly not care?

Related
Oscar's rule book made to be broken
ADVERTISEMENT
Watch Films Online
Films on SBS TV
Friday, 25th May
21:30
Running On Empty
The beautiful Azami is tired of her penniless and lazy boyfriend, Hideji. Determined to break up with him, she must first get back all the money she has given him over the years. She hatches a plot in which she fakes her own kidnapping to get Hideji to pay a ransom. But things get hilariously complicated when nothing goes to plan. Directed by Dai Sako and stars Katsuya Kobayashi, Mihiro and Kenji Date. (From Japan, in Japanese) (Drama) (2010) MA (A,S)
22:40
Summer Rain
Antonio Banderas directs this coming-of-age tale charting the first loves, lusts and obsessions of friends on vacation at the end of the 1970s. After the removal of a kidney, teenager Miguelito is discharged from hospital clutching a copy of Dante's Divine Comedy and a new-found love of poetry. Returning to his gang of friends in Málaga, he soon falls for local beauty, Luli. But by the end of the summer, certain dramatic events will change Miguelito and his friends forever. Stars Alberto Amarilla, María Ruiz and Victoria Abril. (From Spain, in Spanish) (Drama) (2006) (Rpt) MA (S,V,A)
00:45
Kurt Wallander: The Joker
When a woman is murdered outside her restaurant in front of her eight-year-old daughter, Wallander and his team link the death to a restaurant mafia. When a hit is put out on the daughter, she must be protected at all costs. Directed by Stephan Apelgren and stars Krister Henriksson, Johanna Sallstrom and Ola Rapace. (From Sweden, in Swedish) (Crime) (2006) (Rpt) M (V,L,S)
Saturday, 26th May
21:35
Trash
A close-up portrait of three Barcelona women - two sisters and their aging mother - coming to terms with their life circumstances. Younger sister Clara, having foregone a big job opportunity abroad, finds her musician boyfriend cheating on her. Meanwhile, pregnant sister Susana has to deal with her husband being away on long business trips. And mother, Carme, is seriously ill in hospital. Directed by Carles Torras and stars Óscar Jaenada, Judit Uriach and David Selvas. (From Spain, in Spanish and English) (Drama) (2009) (Rpt) MA (A,S,D,N)
22:55
OSS 117: Lost In Rio
Oscar-winning Best Actor Jean Dujardin stars as Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, aka OSS 117, the French spy considered by his superiors to be the best in the business. The year is 1967 - he's been sent on a mission to Rio de Janeiro, to find a former high-ranking Nazi who went into exile in South America after the war. Nominated for two César Awards in 2010. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius and also stars Louise Monot and Alex Lutz. (From France, in French) (Comedy) (2009) (Class tba) CC
00:45
OSS 117: Cairo - Nest Of Spies
It's 1955 and after a fellow agent disappears, secret agent Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, aka OSS 117, is ordered to take his place at the head of a poultry firm in Cairo. This is to be his cover while he is busy foiling Nazis, quelling a fundamentalist rebellion, and bedding local beauties. Nominated for five César Awards in 2007, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius and stars Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo and Richard Sammel. (From France, in French and Arabic) (Comedy) (2006) (Rpt) M (L,V)
Sunday, 27th May
23:25
Kebab Connection
Ibo, a second-generation Turkish hip-hopper, makes an ad to promote his family's King of Kebab fast-food stand. He's a big hit with everyone, until his German girlfriend announces she is pregnant. Directed by Anno Saul and stars Denis Moschitto, Nora Tschirner and Guven Kirac. (From Germany, in German and Turkish) (Comedy) (2004) (Rpt) M (L,V,A) CC
00:05
Camaron
A biographic film about influential flamenco singer El Camarón de la Isla, covering his rise to fame, his drug addiction, and his association with guitarists Paco de Lucía, Tomatito and Paco Cepero. Produced in consultation with his widow. Winner of three Best Actor awards for Óscar Jaenada. Directed by Jaime Chávarri and also stars Óscar Jaenada, Verónica Sánchez and Mercè Llorens. (From Spain, in Spanish) (Biography) (2005) (Rpt) M (D,L)
Monday, 28th May
13:00
Life With My Father
Diagnosed with a terminal illness, hedonist writer François helps his two bickering sons reconnect before his death. Winner of the 2005 Toronto Film Festival Audience Award. Directed by Sébastien Rose and stars Raymond Bouchard, Paul Ahmarani and David La Haye. (From Canada, in French Canadian) (Drama) (2005) (Rpt) M (S,L,N)
22:30
Not One Less
Set in a remote Chinese village during the 1990s, 13-year-old Wei is left in charge of her class when the teacher must leave for a month. Wei is told by the mayor not to lose any students. But within days, one of the boys takes off in search of work in the city, and Wei is forced to go looking for him. A multi-award winning film, including winner of the Golden Lion at the 1999 Venice Film Festival. Directed by Zhang Yimou and stars Wei Minzhi, Zhang Huike and Tian Zhenda. (From China, in Mandarin) (Drama) (1999) G
> View full SBS Film schedule
ADVERTISEMENT
SBS Film Guide to...
The Best & Worst Triad Movies

Gang warfare has been an enduring staple of Hong Kong cinema, on and off screen.

The Best & Worst of Political Bio-Pics

The Lady follows a long line of big screen political bios. He's a few of the high and lowlights.

The Best & Worst Australian Thrillers

Can Wish You Were Here help revive a genre that’s been a minefield for Australian filmmakers recently?

ADVERTISEMENT
SBS Shop
Film Classics 101 (6 CD set)
Film Classics 101 (6 CD set)

Re-discover orchestral, opera and piano works through the lens - from 2001 to Schindler's List and beyond.

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (CD)
Eurovision Song Contest 2012 (CD)

Celebrate the glitz with the official album, including all 42 songs from Europe's favourite TV show!