Tag: Australia

Film Feature: 2021 Dreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival

The Dreamspeakers Festival Society website states that “When the first Dene filmmaker returned home to Canada’s Northwest Territories, his people had no words for his new art. They call it ‘Dreamtalking’.” The term ‘Dene’ refers to both the native language (also called Athabascan) and also the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Territories in Canada. Dreamspeakers was founded in 1993, and for the last 28 years has highlighted the films and media art of Indigenous artists from nations around the globe.

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Single Of The Week: Cuts by Wing Defence

Adelaide, South Australia gives us this week’s single of the week, a hyper catchy pop song from Wing Defence. A song so catchy and joyful that it’s easy to miss that there are three different tempo changes in two and a half minutes. We are still waiting for Wing Defence to make their way across the pond to join Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Camp Cope, Alex Lahey, and all of the other amazing Australian acts to take over the US in the last few years.

Until they make it over here, you can buy the new single and all of their other singles at Bandcamp! 

Film Review: Tracks

Life is a journey– make sure you have enough camels.

Mia Wasikowska and camels in John Curran's Tracks.
Mia Wasikowska and camels in John Curran’s Tracks.

Tracks is based on the true story and National Geographic article (and subsequent memoir) of Robyn Davidson, the Australian woman who made a nine month journey on foot across the Australian desert in 1977 — a distance of about 1700 miles.  Throughout her journey, accompanied only by four load-carrying camels and her dog, but occasionally visited by photographer Rick Smolan and aided by a few indigenous folks and country residents, Robyn wrestles with the pressure to remove herself from civilization while fighting to complete her epic journey.  The film is a fantastic re-enactment of Robyn’s story.  The acting, editing, stunning cinematography, music, and all other aspects of the film work harmoniously to deliver a remarkable tale of individual strength and determination, and about humankind’s companionship with nature.

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