Travelogue Day 17

10/6/06

The Balanda and the Bark Canoes

Balanda translates to white man in the Aboriginal languages of Arnhem Land. This film is a documentary on the making of Ten Canoes and what it meant to the people in Arnhem Land.

Ten Canoes acted as a very important event for the peoples of Arnhem Land and Murwangi. They had lost many of their cultureal traditions over the years, and this was seen as a way to relearn some of them and as a document to pass down to the next generation, something concrete they can point to when the balanda ask "where is your culture?"

There were many projects for the people in that area named by different numbers of canoes (ten = the film, eleven = video production training for the children of the area, twelve = community website, &c. for a book and other things).

Aboriginal languages are more than just structurally different from English. For example, English is hierarchical and full of classification where Aboriginal languages emphasize a oneness in everything. Also, if I recall correctly, there are no personal posessive pronouns in Aboriginal languages, but there are 16 different words for 'we.'

Favela Rising

What began as a quite engaging documentary about the sad state of affairs in the favelas on the hills surrounding Rio de Janeiro and one man's attempts to make things better/stop the unending violence ended in catastrophe when the projection equipment refused to function properly. A great disappointment considering the film's potential. I'll have to try to get this on Netflix.

Solo

Barrett, the gangster who has lost his taste for his job, turns over a new leaf (the Aussie Larrikin?).

The timing changes on transition pans is interesting, but feels out of place at times. Some of the moving from section to section felt a little too quick.

Barrett is interested in jazz, has a hooker for a girlfriend, killer with morals; his life comes full circle. Rampant police corruption a return to the old bushranger film's depiction of cops?

The question and answer with the actors and director after the screening was rather entertaining. This film was the winner of Project Greenlight Australia.