Ten Canoes
Radio Australia had a nice feature about the film Ten Canoes last week (unfortunately, I can’t find the program online). It is the first feature film made entirely in an indigenous Australian language. The film is based in large part on the work of Donald Thomson and the program I heard included relatively long readings of Thomson’s ethnography. Ten Canoes won a special jury prize last year at Cannes and is Australia’s entry for ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ at the Academy Awards this year.
The producers maintain a pretty cool website here. The site includes interactive media, press, and background materials that are interesting. I haven’t seen the film but I really look forward to doing so.
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The DVD is out January 30, and there’s a rumour going around that it will include a narration in Ganalbingu. The cinema release was narrated in English (my one and only issue with the film).
There is a podcast of the ABC Radio National program about the making of 10 Canoes; it can be found on the host program’s website http://www.abc.net.au/rn/awaye/
Awaye is often quite a good program and is great one to add to the podcast list. The 10 canoes show was one of the best I’ve listened to in some time.
The movie is such a unique and well told/shot story that I suspect it will take out the oscar..
Check out Jane Simpson’s post about the critiques of the film for its use of indigenous language: http://blogs.usyd.edu.au/elac/2007/01/why_not_make_films_in_indigeno.html
Thanks! It’s good to read about the reception of the film in the Australian context.