Today’s world is familiar with Australia and the cultural significance it shares, from bushranger to beach boy these representations are effortlessly displayed. However, amongst the glorious beaches and harsh deserts making a perfect canvas for film, stands another minority that are quite often forgotten. Like with many countries over the globe, Australia has an Indigenous race, made up of those people who were there long before settlement. Misunderstood and misrepresented this race has been often ignored, however the last decade has seen these people and their lifestyles come out of the shadows and perfectly exhibited, in Australian film. Beginning in 2001, non indigenous director Steven Johnson released the culture conflicting film, Yolngu
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With a culture that was their own for well over fifty thousand years, white settlement began a change that literally left their traditions and beliefs in the dust. Acknowledging this, Steven Johnson, uses Yolngu Boy (2001) to publicly address not only the culture quelling but also the struggle for identity and a sense of belonging in contemporary Australia. The story itself, tracks the lives of three young Indigenous boys, and focuses on how they deal with the transition from adolescence to adult as Aborigine’s. Lorrpu, Milika and Botj each share different personalities and different views on their background. Whilst Lorrpu demonstrates deep respect for his heritage and is determined to learn more of the history and customs of his people. Best friend, Milika is more concerned with playing football than where he comes from, which leaves Botj, disgruntled and rebellious with no care at all for his ancestry. When Botj finds himself in trouble with the law, the three must journey to Darwin and plead his case to Dawu, tribal leader. Throughout their trek they explore the traditions they have been brought up with, represented in ariel and wide angle shots to show the land and the boys as one. To survive the journey the boys must draw on their ancient bush knowledge and strength of their
With a culture that was their own for well over fifty thousand years, white settlement began a change that literally left their traditions and beliefs in the dust. Acknowledging this, Steven Johnson, uses Yolngu Boy (2001) to publicly address not only the culture quelling but also the struggle for identity and a sense of belonging in contemporary Australia. The story itself, tracks the lives of three young Indigenous boys, and focuses on how they deal with the transition from adolescence to adult as Aborigine’s. Lorrpu, Milika and Botj each share different personalities and different views on their background. Whilst Lorrpu demonstrates deep respect for his heritage and is determined to learn more of the history and customs of his people. Best friend, Milika is more concerned with playing football than where he comes from, which leaves Botj, disgruntled and rebellious with no care at all for his ancestry. When Botj finds himself in trouble with the law, the three must journey to Darwin and plead his case to Dawu, tribal leader. Throughout their trek they explore the traditions they have been brought up with, represented in ariel and wide angle shots to show the land and the boys as one. To survive the journey the boys must draw on their ancient bush knowledge and strength of their