New works from Indigenous Filmmakers
Grace
Tears
My Colour, Your Kind
Passing Through
Promise
My Bed Your Bed
Rated "M" - 83 Minutes |
In recent weeks I've seen a number of impressive Australian films. But this week I want to talk about "Shifting Sands: from Sand to Celluloid continued", a collection of 6 new works from indigenous filmmakers.
Over 4,500 hours of film have been made about indigenous Australians mainly by others. With the acclaimed "From Sand To Celluloid" and now "Shifting Sands", indigenous stories are being told for the screen by indigenous people, and are available for all Australians to enjoy.
The six short films which are collected together under the title of "Shifting Sands" vary in both dramatic and filmic style.
One of the major themes running through the films, sometimes only implied, is that of the contrast between societies, black and white, traditional and present day. Many of the characters find themselves struggling to come to terms with, and bridge, the gaps that have opened for them by choice or by fate.
In "Grace", Justine Saunders gives an impressive performance as an aboriginal woman who has successfully established herself in white society. Her sister dies and Grace returns to north Queensland for the funeral. There she comes face to face with her past and all that she left behind.
"Tears" is a road movie with few cars. A young couple are walking from an outback mission to the nearest bus stop in the hope of starting a new and hopefully better life, but each is torn between staying and going.
"Passing Through" is a ghost story in which a young woman, returning with her family to visit her aunt in the country, meets up with two old men who know her family.
"My Bed Your Bed" is a comedy about a young couple who have been promised to each other as children under traditional law and now, having reached maturity, have moved in together under the careful gaze of friends and family.
There are great performances from singer Urshula Yovitch and Trevor Jamison ("Bran Nue Dae", "Corrugation Roads") whom was interviewed on ARTS alive! last year.
Some of the stories are more successfully realised than others, but each of the films uses imagery and landscape to great effect.
The opening sequence with its wonderful images of wind blowing sand, backed by the sound of children's laughter followed by tears singles what is to come: The 6 films begin in tears and end with laughter. Make a point of seeing these films which offer special insights into a culture and way of life that lies at the heart of Australia.
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