Manganinnie

Manganinnie is an AFI Award-winning 1980 film which follows the journey of Manganinnie, a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman who searches for her tribe with the company of a young, lost white girl named Joanna. Based on Beth Roberts' novel of the same name, it was directed by John Honey and was the first feature film to be financed by the short-lived Tasmanian Film Corporation.

Manganinnie
Promotional movie poster for the film
Directed byJohn Honey
Produced byGilda Baracchi
Written byKen Kelso
Beth Roberts (novel)
StarringMawuyul Yanthalawuy
Anna Ralph
Music byPeter Sculthorpe
CinematographyGary Hansen
Edited byMike Woolveridge
Distributed byGUO
Umbrella Entertainment
Release date
 15 August 1980 (1980-08-15)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
BudgetA$481,000[1][2]

Synopsis

During the Black War of 1830 in Van Diemen's Land, Manganinnie survives a raid. She finds the body of her husband, Meenopeekameena, and builds him a funeral pyre.

The grieving Manganinnie journeys across vast mountains and rivers towards the coast in search of the rest of her tribe. She finds Joanna, a white girl, along her way. The pair develop a bond for each other even without a common language. Mangainnie teaches Joanna some of her traditional knowledge, and eventually initiates her into her tribe.

Ultimately however, Manganinnie comes to realise that her people and way of life has been destroyed by the British colonists. When Joanna is asleep, she carries the girl back to her family.

Joanna struggles to adapt back to life with her family. One day Manganinnie's body is found, and Joanna gives her old friend a traditional funeral using the lessons she has learned.

Production

Filming started 12 November 1979 and took five weeks.[2]

Locations

Reception

Despite the grim subject matter the film recovered its costs and made a small profit.[3]

Awards

See also

Postscript

Anna Ralph, who played the little white girl Joanna, is now an Associate Professor of infectious diseases working at Royal Darwin Hospital looking after patients, including Aboriginal peoples.

References
  1. Connolly, Keith (1994). Oxford Australian Film 1978–1994. Oxford University Press. Page 62
  2. David Stratton, The Last New Wave: The Australian Film Revival, Angus & Robertson, 1980 p320
  3. David Stratton, The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry, Pan MacMillan, 1990 p35
  4. afi.org.au – AFI AWARD WINNERS: FEATURE CATEGORIES 1958–2010 Archived 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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