Review of Ten Canoes (2006) by Raj D — 13 Aug 2007

This movie was released about 6 months back in Amsterdam in several movie halls, but not in the Pathe chain of theaters. So when during this summer festival it was released, I did not want to miss the opportunity to see this movie.

This movie is set in a pre-historic setting among Aboriginal tribes of Australia who lived at the top most point on the Arnhem Land - Arafura swamp. The story is told as a fable (and a lesson) by an elder to a tribe youth who is attracted towards his elder brother?s wife. In the movie there are two parallel stories ? One, the elder telling a story to the youth, and second, the real story.

I will tell you the real story ? of warrior Ridjimiraril (Cruseo Kurddal) with three wives. His younger brother Yeeralparri (Jamie Gulpilil) getting attracted towards Ridjimiraril?s youngest wives. The tradition says that if the older brother dies then the younger brother marries and takes care of the wives. A stranger (Michael Dawu) from another tribe visits the village and the elders of the village think that the stranger leaves behind evil spirits. One day, the middle wife of Ridjimiraril disappears and due to the suspicion on the stranger, Ridjimiraril kills a person from another tribe, but because he does not bury the body properly, the people of another tribe force and attack on this village and want Ridjimiraril to face the law of the land ? i.e. avoid 150 spears thrown at him by another tribe by dancing (standing on one place). Ridjimiraril dances like a ghost to avoid spears coming at him but in the end one spear pierces his stomach. As his death comes near ? as per the aboriginal traditions ? when people from all tribes come to see his death. Ridjimiraril gets up and does the last death dance with music and songs being played all around him.

There is a lesson that is passed on from centuries through such wonderful stories in the Aboriginal tribes of Australia that teaches people to differentiate from good and bad; and obviously it keeps the tradition alive.

The narrator is the famous aboriginal scholar artist David Gulpilil.

I was totally mesmerized by the movie. It took me off feat. It had such a powerful sense of energy in the narrative and characterization that everything felt real ? so real that it gave a look of an documentary. But let us not forget ? this was a movie, and people acting in the movie.

Hats off to those actors from the tribe who ? for the sake of keeping their history alive ? came forward to do anything for this movie, without any hesitation. All the actors were naked ? barely with any clothes on their body. Which Hollywood actor would be ready to show their full body exposure with so natural feel.

I just fell in love with Crusoe Kurddal ? who portrayed the role of Ridjimiraril to the hitch, so real ? so historic. Wow!!!! What personality, what acting?!!!! It seems he went on his own to seek this role ? and what life he brings to this role. The final death dance is the one that takes heart out of the body. The richness of the tradition just melts our soul away.

The Director Rolf de Heer (who was born in Netherlands ? where I stay now) has struggled since 1984 to make good movies and nurtured his skills so delicately to deliver this beautiful fable to us.

The music, location, cinematography, editing, sound recording etc. every department is just perfect. Trying to find a fault in the narrative was a challenge.

Worth a watch for cine-goers who love good movies. A gem in story telling, better than so much mafia, violence movies that have captured the top 100 movies list! Normally I hesitate giving higher ratings than 8 in my scale of 10. But with such a satisfying movie experience I would give?

(Stars 8.25 out of 10).