From one photo to "Ten Canoes" (Rolf de Heer 2006) to many canoes

Abstract

Rolf de Heer's 2006 film "Ten Canoes" is an Aboriginal story presented in an
Aboriginal way that in doing so, further empowers its stars, the Ganalbingu speaking people of remote Ramingining, Northern Australia. The native language of the participants is foregrounded and in the secondary versions in which it was released, the English voice over narration is by heavily accented Aboriginal icon David Gulpilil. Cascading repetition characterises the film's plot with its Aboriginal style of storytelling. And non-Aboriginal writer and co-director Rolf de Heer collaborates like few others we might describe as auteurs: his successful and authentic co-operation with the community is reaping awards and, more importantly, seeding many other productive projects within this isolated community, each a 'canoe' of opportunity.