DocWatchers and the African Film Festival Present: A Black History Month Special: Black Like Me

(The Current Australian Aborigine Black Power Movement in Australia)

 

Friday, February 10th, 7:00pm

Rabbit Proof Fence            

Phillip Noyce, 2002, 94 min.

The true story of three aboriginal girls who were forcibly taken from their homes in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of an official Australian government policy. They make a daring escape and embark on an epic 1,500 mile journey to get back home -- following the rabbit proof fence that bisects the Australian continent -- with the authorities in hot pursuit. A verite-fiction classic.

 

Reception to immediately follow screening

 

Saturday, February 11th, 5:00pm

The Tracker                          

Rolf de Heer, 2002, 98 min.

The year is 1922 in this docu-drama. The Tracker (David Gulpilil) has the job of pursuing a fugitive, an aborigine who is suspected of murdering a white woman, as he leads three mounted policemen across the outback. As they move deeper into the bush and further away from civilization, the toxic forces of paranoia and violence begin to escalate, stirring up questions of what is black and what is white and who is leading whom. Their journey becomes an acrimonious and murderous trek that shifts power from one man to another.

 

7:00pm

Our Generation            

Sinem Saban & Damien Curtis, 2010, 73 min.

Our Generation is a powerful and upfront documentary on the Australian Aboriginal struggle for their land, culture and freedom -- a story that has been silenced by the Australian Government and mainstream media. In this film, national indigenous leaders, historians and human rights activists explore the ongoing clash of cultures that is threatening to wipe out the oldest continuing culture in the world.

 

Reception to immediately follow screening

Link to trailer for Our Generation:

www.ourgeneration.org.au