Ten Canoes
by Rolf de Heer
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DVD details
Actor: Crusoe Kurddal, David Gulpilil, Jamie Dayindi Gulpilil Dalaithngu, Peter Minygululu, Richard BirrinbirrinDirector: Rolf de Heer
Brand: Uni
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 92 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-25
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Palm Pictures
DVD Reviews of Ten Canoes
DVD Review: Ancient Culture Becomes Transcendent Through Modern Cinema.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Ten Canoes" unusual story-within-a-story structure allows a glimpse of one Indigenous Australian culture while it offers a timeless fable with enough drama to satisfy both Western and Yolngu tastes. The film was conceived by writer/director Rolf de Heer as a project for and about the native people of Arnhem Land in Northern Australia, from whence his friend actor David Gulpilil, who narrates the film, hails. The film's style and narrative structure were inspired by the photographs of anthropologist Dr. Donald Thomson, who took over 4,000 pictures of the Yolngu people in the 1930s while their ancient traditions were still widely practiced, including an iconic photo of ten canoeists on a goose egg hunt.
As the film opens on the beautiful blue and green of Arnhem Land, a Storyteller (David Gulpilil) introduces us to a story of his people, of the young man Dayindi (Jamie Gulpilil) who covets the youngest wife of his older brother Minygululu (Peter Minygululu). While Dayindi experiences his first goose egg gathering expedition with the men in Arafura Swamp, his brother tells him a tale of their ancient ancestors to guide him: Among the ancients, there was a young man, Yeeralparil, who also fancied the youngest of his warrior brother Ridjimiraril's (Crusoe Kurddal) wives. One day, a Stranger (Michael Dawu) appeared in camp to trade objects of sorcery. He was sent on his way with food and good wishes, but a cloud of misfortune and ill will remained behind.
"Ten Canoes" offers drama, humor, and a striking visual exploration of a traditional culture and the lands that shaped it for millennia. The goose egg hunt sequences are in black-and-white, placing them in "Thomson Time", as they recall and dramatize the photographs that captured that annual ritual. It seems strange at first to see a sun-drenched swamp in black-and-white, but the heavily highlighted foliage lends the scenes an appropriate mythical quality. Working with mostly non-professional actors who speak limited English, in keeping with their tribal laws, presented some hurdles which were surmounted in part due to the efforts of actor Peter Djigirr, whom Rolf de Heer credits as co-director. There is nothing remarkable about the story told in "Ten Canoes" but the telling itself is hypnotic and transcendent. In English and Ganalbingu with optional English subtitles.
The DVD (Palm 2007): There are 5 bonus features. "The Batandu and the Bark Canoes" (51 min) is a documentary narrated by Rolf de Heer about making the film, from its inspiration, to casting, the obstacles of traditional kinship laws, working with the actors, etc. It's an interesting and well-produced sort of director's journal. "Aerial Map of Arnhem Land" (3 min) is an attractive aerial survey of the area that zooms in and out on its own. "Thomson's Photographs" (3 min) is a slideshow of some of Donald Thomson's photos compared to the film, which attempts to recreate them. "An Interview with Director Rolf de Neer" (4 min) talks about the evolution of the idea for the film. "An Interview with Peter Djigirr" (4 min) discusses the meaning of the film to Yolngu culture.
Description of Ten Canoes
Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 09/25/2007 Run time: 92 minutes Rating: NrBestsellers in DVD
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