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Amazon.co.uk Review
An art-house film filled with more humour and skilled acting than most Hollywood blockbusters, Ten Canoes is a wry story within a story. The tone of the film is set when narrator David Gulpilil (Crocodile Dundee) says, "Once upon a time in a land far, far away...." He stops himself with a warm, hearty chuckle and adds, "I'm only joking." Director Rolf de Heer does a fine job with his cast of novice actors, who depict a life most moviegoers are unfamiliar with. Set in Australia's far northern Arnhem Land, the film--which won the Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival--tells the tale of friendship, deception, and forbidden love. Ten tribesmen venture on a trip where they will build canoes, gather food, and gossip about their sexual prowess and their wives. During the trip, Minygululu (Peter Minygululu) regales his younger brother Dayindi (played by David Gulpilil's son, Jamie Gulpilil) with stories of a man who lusts after his older sibling's wife. It is giving nothing away to reveal that Dayindi has a crush on Minygululu's youngest bride. Handled differently, the film could've been saddled with the ick factor of siblings chasing after the same young woman. But the way de Heer presents it, it is a parable that distinguishes between right and wrong, in an entertaining and non-judgmental way. Cinematographer Ian Jones is to be commended for his amazing work. He frames the shots in a superb fashion and showcases the raw beauty of the land--and the people--that time has forgotten. --Jae-Ha Kim
Synopsis
Set in Australia one thousand years back in history, Ten Canoes follows 10 Aboriginal men as they attempt to build canoes for hunting geese. As they harvest the wood for the canoes and prepare for the mission, they share stories and legends from their tribe's past. Dayandi, who coverts his elder brother's wife, is told the story of a tribesman from the past who also coverted his elder brother's wife. Ten Canoes looks back at a fascinating period of time, before Australia was exposed to Western civilization, and is an entertaining and at times humorous adventure. The cast is predimonantly made up of non-professional actors, which gives the film a refreshingly naturalistic style.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this film at the cinema it is a wonderful film about aboriginal people in Australia a long time ago.
Its a story within a story, as an elder brother is telling a tale to his younger brother about a younger brother who once eyed up one of his elder brothers wives and what happened to him as a consequence.
The story is told as the men head off on a hunt, the story being told a bit at a time whilst the young brother learns the ways of his people.
It's a fascinating film, with very serious and very funny bits within it like life. I wholeheartedly reccommend this film.
Its a story within a story, as an elder brother is telling a tale to his younger brother about a younger brother who once eyed up one of his elder brothers wives and what happened to him as a consequence.
The story is told as the men head off on a hunt, the story being told a bit at a time whilst the young brother learns the ways of his people.
It's a fascinating film, with very serious and very funny bits within it like life. I wholeheartedly reccommend this film.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film brings us a group of people in a world so far removed from ours, living a life so different - and yet, in an instant our universes are unified over a grumble and a laugh about some guy farting.
Ten Canoes shows us a modern Aborigine retelling of old legend; a tale about an Aboriginal community from way back - involving a love triangle, a mysterious disappearance, and tribal revenge.
The story is told by way of scenes cutting between the historical legend and the present day. Present day scenes are presented in stark black and white, whereas the past is brought to vivid life with some beautiful Australian landscapes. This gives the film an individual visual style which compliments the relative uniqueness of a film which apart form the narration is entirely in indigenous Australian language.
In a nutshell: The main strength of the film is its ability to show that societies at opposite ends of the earth and separated by generations all contain interesting characters who all feel jealousy, have idiosyncrasies, and above all have a sense of humour. The humour is needed as the story is interesting but not overly gripping, the warmth of the narrator stops you from clock-watching but the film didn't impress me as much as I expected it to. It is a worthwhile watch though and it does give you an insight into an ancient way of life which may echo still in Australia today, but the essence of which will always feature in every community everywhere
Ten Canoes shows us a modern Aborigine retelling of old legend; a tale about an Aboriginal community from way back - involving a love triangle, a mysterious disappearance, and tribal revenge.
The story is told by way of scenes cutting between the historical legend and the present day. Present day scenes are presented in stark black and white, whereas the past is brought to vivid life with some beautiful Australian landscapes. This gives the film an individual visual style which compliments the relative uniqueness of a film which apart form the narration is entirely in indigenous Australian language.
In a nutshell: The main strength of the film is its ability to show that societies at opposite ends of the earth and separated by generations all contain interesting characters who all feel jealousy, have idiosyncrasies, and above all have a sense of humour. The humour is needed as the story is interesting but not overly gripping, the warmth of the narrator stops you from clock-watching but the film didn't impress me as much as I expected it to. It is a worthwhile watch though and it does give you an insight into an ancient way of life which may echo still in Australia today, but the essence of which will always feature in every community everywhere
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this film not knowing a lot about the Aborigine people. I loved rabbit proof fence but I don't have any special interest in them if the truth be told. I saw the film on a nice quiet evening and the film begins with some beautifully shot views of an Australian swamp and it begins as if being told a story by an old tribesman.
I have never seen anything quite like it. It really does propel you backwards in time and is a fantastic snapshot of how Aborigines lived when they were living the traditional bushman's life. The story unfolds as it would have at a gentle pace and delivers on a number of levels (just don't expect any CGI or car chases). If you have an interest in culture or not the film is fascinating and is worthy of your time.
If you get a chance, watch the bonus material as it explains how and why the story has been told an helps to remind us of how these people have lived for years with traditions and values such as our own. Surely the world would be a greyer place without them.
I have never seen anything quite like it. It really does propel you backwards in time and is a fantastic snapshot of how Aborigines lived when they were living the traditional bushman's life. The story unfolds as it would have at a gentle pace and delivers on a number of levels (just don't expect any CGI or car chases). If you have an interest in culture or not the film is fascinating and is worthy of your time.
If you get a chance, watch the bonus material as it explains how and why the story has been told an helps to remind us of how these people have lived for years with traditions and values such as our own. Surely the world would be a greyer place without them.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A proper story of Australia
If you like a moral tale and want to understand a bit about aboriginal thinking this is great.Slow paced but makes you think a lot.
Published 1 month ago by donnchad
Terrific
A great moive with a great cast of professional and amateur actorz from the indigenous population. A must see. Great storylijne and great cinemograhic work. scenery is great also
Published 6 months ago by Double Angel
Gentle story telling and a beautiful film
This film is a morality tale set in the culture of Australian aboriginal people. During the course of a goose egg hunting trip, an elder brother teaches his younger sibling about... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by C. Barnes
Interesting
Original film set among the Australian Aborigines. The landscape is beautiful - I never imagined Australia could be so green and swampy. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2009 by shpadoinkle
Aborigine ways
I was bored stiff but if you are interested in tribal behaviour you might enjoy: others did, I didn't.
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by JE Moore
Simply beautiful
Extrodinary film which provides a wonderful education to the veiwer about the culture of the aborigines, hopefully this film will help break down predjuces. Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2008 by T. Burden
when a movie is unordinary
I saw this film on the Qantas flight from Singapore to Perth for my second visit to Australia. It was a true pleasure to view the Arnhem swamplands, listen to the Ganalbingu... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2007 by Westergren Viveka
Well done, white subtitles over the top of B&W film...
I only saw five minutes of this. Because the white subtitles are laid over the top of the bottom of the film of which most was sunbleached B&W they were virtually impossible to... Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2007 by A. Sneade
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