Wangany Mala - MDFF Screening
Caitlin Hughes
Hello everyone,
Sharing the below information, with thanks to Abdi Karya.
Hopefully Melbourne friends will be able to take a visit to the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival to see Wangany Mala - more details below.
There are still a handful of tickets available on either the 21st of July (7:10pm; special screening, with talk afterwards) or 23rd of July (9pm) at Cinema Nova. For those based interstate - it is available for streaming online via 'online pass' until 31 July.
Check here: https://www.cinemanova.com.au/films/mdff-wangany-mala-glossary-of-an-empty-orchestra
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SYNOPSIS
Hundreds of years before European colonies were established on the Australian continent, First Nations were part of a trading network that extended to China’s Qing Dynasty. Indonesian ‘Makassan’ fishing fleets harvested trepang (sea cucumber) for six months of every year with the local Nations of northern Australia. By 1907 the trade was ended by colonial authorities.
WANGANY MALA follows the journey of Nirmala in South Sulawesi as she works on the construction of a traditional pinisi sailboat and discovers her region’s ongoing connections to Marege’ – the Macassan name for Arnhem Land. Filmed over five years in collaboration with Anindilyakwa and Yolŋu communities, this documentary is set to a soundtrack by experimental Melbourne composer Fia Fiell, and features rarely seen footage, photographs and artwork.
Yolŋu, English, Amamalya Ayakwa (Anindilyakwa, Groote Eylandt), Bahasa Indonesia, and Coastal Konjo (South Sulawesi) languages.
DIRECTOR: Will McCallum
PRODUCERS: Will McCallum, Abdi Karya, Arian Pearson, Horst Liebner
STORY
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, a young Muslim woman buys supplies for a traditional sailing boat that is nearing completion. Meanwhile in Yirrkala, northeast Arnhem Land, Arian and Timmy make arrangements for a visit to their Bawaka homelands. Alternating between communities in present-day Australia and Indonesia, the film shows that the First Nations connections with the so-called Macassans are still alive, despite the actions of Australian authorities. Featuring rarely seen photographs, artwork, and also footage from the National Film and Sound Archive, the film amplifies the knowledge of Edith Mamarika on Groote Eylandt, along with other Knowledge Holders on both sides of the relationship – some of whom have now passed away.
Set to a multilayered soundtrack by experimental Melbourne composer Fia Fiell, the film features rarely seen photographs, artwork, and footage from the National Film and Sound Archive.
this is the trailer of the movie :
https://youtu.be/bu5ED1nOhWQ?si=_NADyTmmDTSbjzcE