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A series of films made between 1972 and 1990 by both independent filmmakers and Australian film and television institutions, distributed on videocassette format by AFI Distribution Ltd under the collective title Picturing Black Australia. The films, which range in length from 6 to 130 minutes, explore a variety of issues to do with Aboriginal history and contemporary black Australian culture.
Notes
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Films in the series include:
- Ningla A-Na: Hungry for our Land (1972)
- Protected (1976)
- Backroads (1977)
- Robin Campbell: Old Fella Now (Memories of a Muruwarri) (1978)
- My Survival as an Aboriginal (1978)
- Two Songs by Dougie Young (1979)
- Dirt Cheap (1980)
- Bushed: An Aboriginal Perspective on the Past 200 Years (1980)
- Two Laws (1981)
- Munda Nyuringu: He's Taken the Land, He Believes It Is His, He Won't Take It Back (1983)
- Wrong Side of the Road (1983)
- Milliya Rumarra: Brand New Day (1984)
- The Rentman (1986)
- Nice Coloured Girls (1987)
- Women's Dreaming (1987)
- First Born: The Life and Times of Jack Davis (1988)
- Australia Daze (1988)
- Eelemarni (1988)
- Minga: A Primitive Culture (1988)
- Dancing in the Moonlight (1988)
- The Greedy Frog (1988)
- A Little Life (1988)
- Moodeitj Yorgas: Solid Woman (1988)
- No Problems (1989)
- Waiting for Bill (1989)
- Always Was, Always Will Be (1989)
- Eden (1990)
- Lord of the Bush (1990)
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Some of the films have been re-released by the AFI on DVD.
Includes
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form
y
Backroads
Melbourne
:
Back Roads Productions
,
1977
Z1323766
1977
single work
film/TV
crime
A vivid journey into the remote corners of white responsibility for black despair in Australia, Backroads was the first feature film to which Aboriginal people made a major creative contribution.
'Backroads tells the story of an aimless white drifter Bill who has a chance encounter with Aboriginal man Gary. They steal a car and petrol and supplies as they need it.'
'As they travel they pick up another Aboriginal man on the run from an unsuccessful marriage and the bored white wife of a service station owner. A French backpacker joins them for a short while.'
'Always on the run from police, boredom and guns turn into a deadly combination.' (Source: Shareourpride website)
Melbourne : Australian Film Institute Distribution , 1980-1989 -
form
y
First Born : The Life and Times of Jack Davis
Australia
:
Zest Films
,
1988
Z1008562
1988
single work
film/TV
A portrait of Aboriginal spokesman, writer and playwright, Jack Davis. Davis relates his childhood and experiences on an Aboriginal settlement. Extracts from some of his plays are presented. A useful discussion starter for topics related to Aboriginal culture and the nature of government intervention in the lives of the Aboriginal people in the past. Designed as a resource for teachers and aimed primarily at senior secondary students.
Melbourne : Australian Film Institute Distribution , 1988
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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The Australian Feminist Films of the 90s Were Revolutionary. We Can't Let Them Disappear
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 19 August 2016;
— Review of Picturing Black Australia 1972 series - publisher film/TV 'To forget the films cutting-edge female directors were making in the 1990s is to forget their insight, creativity and courage, write the curators of Femflix.'
-
The Australian Feminist Films of the 90s Were Revolutionary. We Can't Let Them Disappear
2016
single work
review
— Appears in: The Guardian Australia , 19 August 2016;
— Review of Picturing Black Australia 1972 series - publisher film/TV 'To forget the films cutting-edge female directors were making in the 1990s is to forget their insight, creativity and courage, write the curators of Femflix.'
