By KATH GANNAWAY
THE ‘accidental’ trilogy of 10 Canoes, The Tracker and Charlie’s Country was an inspired choice for the second Healesville Mini Film Festival on Sunday 7 February.
Yarra Ranges Film Society pulled off a first for Australia, screening the Rolf de Heer/David Gulpilil films as a trilogy, and securing the world-famous director to introduce them and stay on for a Q&A at the end of the day.
Mr de Heer said the films were not made as a trilogy but with the making of 10 Canoes in 2006 there was a natural sequence.
“10 Canoes (2006) showed how it used to be, Tracker (2002) showed what we did to them (Aboriginal people) and in Charlie’s Country (2013) … these are the consequences,” he said.
YRFS president Keith Wade said the festival in general and Mr de Heer’s contribution in particular, exceeded all expectations.
“My personal reaction was that you can appreciate the film so much more having those insights into how it was made, and what the director intended to do with it,” Mr Wade said.
One of the unique features of 10 Canoes and Charlie’s Country was that they were filmed in Indigenous language.
“Rolf de Heer was the first person to make a film in Aboriginal language and it gives so much more authenticity and recognition to the Indigenous people and their culture, and their place as the first people of the country,” Mr Wade said.
It was the insights that Mr de Heer was able to offer into Mr Gulpilil as a person, an Aboriginal man and an actor that was great.
He also spoke from his own perspective and experience of the future for Aboriginal people saying it is a huge issue.
“It’s just such a different culture and there are whole concepts that don’t exist in their language,” he said.
“Their culture is not about the future, it is about the present and the past.
“They don’t have a future tense in their language; it is a whole different way of thinking.”
Mr Wade said the job for the society now was to plan next year’s Healesville festival. In the meantime, they will present the Warburton Film Festival in June.
Visit www.yarrarangesfilmsociety.org.au for updates.
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