Film list

[camels-of-the-pitjantjara--Film-image]
Camels of the Pitjantjara 1969 45'
  Directed by Roger Sandall .
From the 1920s onwards, when motor vehicles displaced camels as a mode of supply in central Australia, camels gradually went feral. As this film shows, however, in the 1960s, the Pitjantjara were
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Infrastructure / Transport Animals
[making-worlds-otherwise--Film-image]
Making Worlds Otherwise 2020 28'
  Directed by Paul Gurrumuruwuy Jennifer Deger Enid Guruŋulmiwuy Warren Balpatji Meredith Balanydjarrk James Ganambarr Kayleen Djingadjingawuy Victoria Baskin Coffey Sebastian Lowe .
An exuberant experiment in the ethnographic art of remix that gives new form to Miyarrka Media’s project of yuṯa, or new, anthropology. Sound, images, colour, light, and deeply felt patterns of
Australia Collective / Community identity Colonialism / Postcolonialism Internet Digital media Participatory / Collaborative methods
[namatjira-project--Film-image]
Namatjira Project 2017 87'
  Directed by Sera Davies .
An extraordinary first-hand account of the international battle to reclaim the artwork and heritage of one of Australia’s most important Indigenous figures: Albert Namatjira. Albert Namatjira was
Australia Art / Artists / Artisans Collective / Community identity Colonialism / Postcolonialism Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy Political Activists Race / Racism / Antiracism
[the-new-boys--Film-image]
The New Boys 2003 100'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
The social dynamics of the group is the focus of this study of life in Foot House, one of Doon School’s dormitories for new boys. It begins a few days before the boys appear and shows them
South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission Collective / Community identity
[ngarap-fighting-over-a-corpse--Film-image]
Ngarap: fighting over a corpse 1973 17'
  Directed by Anthony Forge .
In 1993, Anthony Forge filmed the cremation of an older woman from an affluent ‘commoner’ family. As her body was moved from her family compound to the cremation tower, men of the ward seized the
South-East Asia Death Ritual Art / Artists / Artisans Archival material / Museum displays
[paradise-bent-boys-will-be-girls-in-samoa--Film-image]
Paradise Bent. Boys will be Girls in Samoa 1999 51'
  Directed by Heather Croall .
Paradise Bent is a fascinating and entertaining film that tells the story of the Samoan fa'afafines: boys who are raised as girls and take on the domestic duties performed by women around the home,
Melanesia Gender Role and Identity Sex / Sexuality
[releasing-the-spirits-a-village-cremation-in-bali--Film-image]
Releasing the Spirits: a village cremation in Bali 1991 44'
  Directed by Patsy Asch Linda Connor Timothy Asch .
In 1978, as part of the preparations for the island-wide ceremony eka dasa rudra, religious officials urged all Balinese to cleanse the island by cremating their dead. Many were forced to pool
South-East Asia Death Ritual
[ringtone--Film-image]
Ringtone 2014 30'
  Directed by Jennifer Deger Paul Wunungmurra .
Yolngu Aboriginal families offer glimpses into their lives and relationships through their choice of ringtones. From ancestral clan songs to 80s hip hop artists and local gospel tunes, these songs
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Music / Ethnomusicology Material Culture
[since-the-company-came--Film-image]
Since the Company Came 2001 52'
  Directed by Russel Hawkins .
Set in the South Pacific, in a remote Solomon Islands village, 'Since the Company Came' is the story of a community coming to terms with social, cultural and ecological disintegration. When village
Melanesia Land Rights Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Social Conflict Socioeconomic conditions
[some-alien-creatures--Film-image]
Some Alien Creatures 2005 74'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
A film about the famous experimental, co-educational boarding school in South India, the Rishi Valley School, founded by the influential Indian thinker Krishnamurti. In this film about a progressive
South Asia Children / Young people Gender Role and Identity Education / Knowledge Transmission
[spear-and-sword-a-payment-of-bridewealth-on-the-island-of-roti--Film-image]
Spear and Sword: a Payment of Bridewealth on the Island of Roti 1988 22'
  Directed by James J. Fox Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .
The film begins as the groom’s side gathers the animals and money for a bridewealth payment, and discusses problems that might arise in negotiating the exchange. In ritual silence, they walk to the
South-East Asia Ritual Marriage Family / Kinship
[stockmans-strategy--Film-image]
Stockman's Strategy 1984 52'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
A film which explores the philosophy of teaching and learning of Sunny Bancroft, manager of an Aboriginal-run cattle station in northern New South Wales. It also tells the story of Shane Gordon, a
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Animals Education / Knowledge transmission
[sunny-and-the-dark-horse--Film-image]
Sunny and the Dark Horse 1986 86'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
A true story of a country family’s gradual involvement and growing passion for ‘picnic racing’. Sunny Bancroft is an Aboriginal cattle-station manager in New South Wales. With his
Australia Rural Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Animals
[takeover--Film-image]
Takeover 1980 90'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
On March 13, 1978 the Queensland Government announced its intention to take over management of Aurukun Aboriginal Reserve from the Uniting Church. The people of Aurukun complained bitterly, fearing
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Resistance Land Rights Social Conflict
[tempus-de-baristas--Film-image]
Tempus de Baristas 1993 100'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
This film depicts the characters, and social dilemmas of three generations of Sardinian mountain shepherds. Although born roughly 20 years apart, Franchiscu (62), his son Pietro (17) and their
Western Europe Herding Social Change Family / Kinship Rural
[three-horsemen--Film-image]
Three Horsemen 1982 50'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
Bob Massey Pootchemunka has spent most of his life as a stockman and drover. Now over 75, his ambition is to see an all-Aboriginal cattle station operating at Ti-Tree on his traditional clan land.
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Herding Animals Land Rights
[to-get-that-country--Film-image]
To Get That Country 1978 70'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
An important historical film of events surrounding early meetings of the Northern Land Council in 1977, where uranium mining, land rights and Aboriginal leadership were the key issues.
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Land Rights Social Organisation
[to-live-with-herds--Film-image]
To Live With Herds 1972 90'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
The Jie are semi-nomadic pastoral people living in North-eastern Uganda, who are striving to maintain their way of life in the face of unsympathetic government policy, and, at the time of filming, a dry-season famine.
East Africa Nomads and Nomadism Disasters Law and Legislation / Bureaucracy
[a-transfer-of-power--Film-image]
A Transfer of Power 1986 22'
  Directed by Judith MacDougall David MacDougall .
Replacing the engine in an old car is a familiar rural task, but how people go about it differs. For these Aboriginal men in New South Wales, it’s an occasion for affirming continuing
Australia Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Education / Knowledge transmission Infrastructure / Transport
[under-the-mens-tree--Film-image]
Under the Men's Tree 1973 15'
  Directed by David MacDougall Judith MacDougall .
At Jie cattle camps in Uganda men often gather under a special tree to make leather and wooden goods and talk, relax, and sleep. This brilliant ethnographic documentary by renowned filmmakers David
East Africa Infrastructure / Transport Informant-researcher relationship Reflexivity
[under-the-palace-wall--Film-image]
Under the Palace Wall 2013 53'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
From the 16th century the Indian village of Delwara in southern Rajasthan was ruled as a principality of the kingdom of Mewar. Its palace, which overlooks the village, is now a luxury hotel - a
South Asia Education / Knowledge transmission Children / Young people Tourism / Travel / Pilgrimage
[waiting-for-harry--Film-image]
Waiting for Harry 1980 57'
  Directed by Kim McKenzie .
Although the events around which this film was planned were the final mortuary rites for Les Angabarraparra, the subject of the film became interaction. Interaction between the anthropologist Les
Australia Informant-researcher relationship Indigenous peoples / First Nations peoples Death Reflexivity
[the-water-of-words-a-cultural-ecology-of-a-small-island-in-eastern-indonesia--Film-image]
The Water of Words: a cultural ecology of a small island in Eastern Indonesia 1983 30'
  Directed by J. Fox Timothy Asch Patsy Asch .
This film examines the ecology and poetry of everyday life. Two Rotinese narrate this film, each offering his perception of the importance of the Lontar (Borassus) palm: a clan leader describes the
South-East Asia Archaeobotany / Ethnobotany Linguistics / Language Environment
[a-wife-among-wives--Film-image]
A Wife Among Wives 1981 72'
  Directed by Judith MacDougall David MacDougall .
This segment of the trilogy on the Turkana of northern Kenya (see 'Lorang’s Way' and 'The Wedding Camels' above) evolves around the role of women in the society. The audience follows the
East Africa Gender Role and Identity Marriage Family / Kinship
[wild-honey-caring-for-bees-in-a-divided-land--Film-image]
Wild Honey: Caring for bees in a divided land 2019 30'
  Directed by Lisa Palmer .
For more than a century, the island of Timor has been divided by a colonial border. Timor’s migratory wild honey bees challenge this division. In community honey harvest rituals, queen bees are
South-East Asia Animals Food / Water Hunting / Gathering / Fishing
[with-morning-hearts--Film-image]
With Morning Hearts 2001 110'
  Directed by David MacDougall .
This film continues MacDougall's long-term study of an elite boys' boarding school in northern India. It focuses on a group of twelve-year-olds during their first year in one of the 'houses' for new
South Asia Children / Young people Education / Knowledge Transmission
[yolngu-homeland--Film-image]
Yolngu Homeland 2015 58'
  Directed by Natasha Fijn .
An observational film about Yolngu connections with other beings and the land. Garrthalala is a strong homeland community in Arnhem Land, Australia, where all ages venture out onto the coast and into