Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that these films may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.
Blackfellas
MA15+, 1993
Genre: Drama
Director: James Ricketson
Starring: John Moore, David Ngoombujarra, Ernie Dingo
What's it about?
Nyoongar Doug Dooligan (John Moore) has just got out of prison. He wants to remain law-abiding, but the pull of his old family and friends - who are deeply embroiled in a life of crime - is very strong. When Doug is asked to help a friend (David Ngoombujarra) pull off a robbery, he knows it's a bad idea but he goes along anyway...
Manganinnie
PG, 1980
Director: John Honey
Starring: Mawuyul Yanthalawuy, Anna Ralph, Phillip Hinton
What's it about?
This lyrical story of isolation and survival explores the harrowing story of the Black Drive of 1830: the near-genocide of the Tasmania's indigenous population. A newly arrived Englishman is pressured into helping British colonial forces carry out the forced removal of Aboriginal people from white settlements. A woman, Manganinnie, survives a Black Line raid which claims the life of her husband, Meenopeekameena. During a family outing in the wilderness, the Englishman's young daughter becomes separated from her family. She and Manganinnie overcome mutual mistrust to embark upon a search of Manganinnie’s people.
Toomelah
MA15+, 2011
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Ivan Sen
Starring: Michael Connors, Christopher Edwards, Daniel Connors
What's it about?
In a remote Aboriginal community, 10-year-old Daniel yearns to be a 'gangster' like the male role models in his life. As his home life becomes increasingly difficult, Daniel he falls in with a local gang and is well on his way to accomplishing his goal. His sometime girlfriend, Tatiana holds out hope that he can turn his back on the gang and return to school.
[link title="Toomelah Review" url="node/5465"]
Walkabout
1971
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Starring: Jenny Agutter, David Gulpilil, Luc Roeg
What's it about?
Starring David Gulpilil in his first major screen role, Walkabout chronicles the spiritual and emotional journey of a sister and brother abandoned in the Australian outback.
[link title="Walkabout: Cheat Sheet" url="node/79462"]
[link title="Walkabout Review" url="node/3622"]
Beneath Clouds
M, 2002
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director: Ivan Sen
Starring: Arthur Dignam, Kevin Pitt, Judy Duncan, Athol French, Mundurra Weldon, Simon Swan, Jenna Lee Connors, Dannielle Hall, Damian Pitt
What's it about?
Ivan Sen drew upon his own background for this, his feature film debut. It follows two teenagers as they hitch-hike across NSW, and the choices they make along the way are inspired by Sen's own experience of growing up with an Aboriginal mother and an absent white father.
[link title="Beneath Clouds: A superb Australian film" url="node/3364"]
Putuparri and the Rainmakers
M
Australia, 2015
Genre: Documentary
Director: Nicole Ma
What's it about?
This AACTA Award nominated documentary follows Tom "Putuparri" Lawford as he connects with his ancestral lands, and reconciles his past wrongs. Director Nicole Ma spent more than a decade documenting Putuparri's journey, travelling with him and his family on numerous occasions as they fight for their native title claim over the area.
Dark Age
MA15+
Australia, 1987
Genre: Adventure, Horror
Director: Arch Nicholson
Starring: John Jarratt, David Gulpilil, Max Phipps
What's it about?
Arch Nicholson's story of a giant croc on the loose in the Northern Territory thoughtfully weaves conservation concerns and a comment about indigenous spirituality into a gnarly '80s Ozploitation thriller. Widely championed by Quentin Tarantino as one of his all-time favourite films.
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