Banduk

Banduk
Directed byDi Drew
Written byJames Badger
Produced byPenelope Spence
StarringBayulma Marika
Garry McDonald
Banduk Marika
CinematographySteve Dobson
Edited byDon Saunders
Music byGeoff Harvey
Production
company
Release date
  • 1985 (1985)
Running time
90 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Banduk is a 1985 Australian television film shot in Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory of Australia.[1][2]

Plot[edit]

There is no dialogue in the film; the story is told in its imagery. The boy and girl (siblings) in the story (Banduk and Yalumul) realise that the ice-cream van owners are smuggling native animals out of Australia, including one of the Yolngu sacred animals, the red-collared lorikeet, or lindrij. With the help of Banduk's grandfather, they manage to trap the smugglers and are given a reward.[3][2]

The sub-plot involves the children raising money to buy musical instruments for their band.[2]

Cast[edit]

The cast is as follows:[2]

  • Garry McDonald – Mr Kool
  • Jone/Joan Winchester – Mrs Kool
  • Bayulma Marika – Banduk[a][3]
  • Yalumul Marika – Yalumul
  • Roy Marika – Grandad
  • Gurumin Marika – Father
  • Banduk Marika – Aunt
  • Tommy Munyurran – Police aide

Production[edit]

Renowned Yolngu artist Banduk Marika served as Aboriginal consultant, and also played the role of Aunt in the film. Roy Marika, Banduk's uncle and renowned artist, plays the grandfather.[2]

Release[edit]

The film was made by Channel 9 (now Nine Network) for the Second European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Drama Exchange for children, and released on Channel 9 in July 1985.[2] It was released in the UK by Thames Television.[5]

Reception[edit]

Cinema Papers gives the film a lukewarm review,[2] but The Sydney Morning Herald (Deirdre McPherson) called the film charming in its simplicity, and Bayulma Marika "most appealing as Banduk".[3]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Sometimes cited as Banula Marika, but a source for his role in Bedevil (1993) says that that was the first film role for Banula (David) Marika.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p11
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Guest, Sarah (22 September 2016) [1986]. "The parakeet connection". Cinema Papers: 52. Retrieved 25 July 2021 – via Issuu.
  3. ^ a b c McPherson, Deirdre (27 October 1986). "Homosexual rape at lunchtime? - - No thanks - young ones". Sydney Morning Herald. Section: The Guide. p. 6. ...their totem bird - the red collared Lorikeet or Lindrij... Bayulma Marika from the Yirrkala Dhanbul Community is most appealing as Banduk.
  4. ^ "Bedevil: When the unexplained happens [Press kit]" (PDF). Ronin Films. Retrieved 25 July 2021. For the role of Stompie... Moffatt turned to the Bangarra Dance Theatre in Redfern, casting Banula Marika, a member of the famous Marika family of Arnhem Land... Banula had never acted before, but he had a quality of stillness which was exactly right.
  5. ^ "Banduk (1986)". BFI. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.

External links[edit]