Director and producer Will McCallum was initially struck by stories of contacts and even close friendships between Makassan sailors and the indigenous peoples of Australia’s North, such as the Yolngu People, hundreds of years ago. However, he soon discovered that the stories were still alive in the memories of these peoples.
Thus, he attempts to tell the story in a way in which Nirmala - also known as Mala - became a central character - weaving her storyline with scenes from the Northern Territory, such as conversations about Makassan contact and the interest of First Nations figures in the lives of Indonesians these days.
SBS Indonesian spoke to Will McCallum and Mala about the making of Wangany Mala and life after finishing the documentary.
Listen to the full podcast.
