11 results for your search
The Good Woman of Bangkok
directed by Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013; produced by Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013 (Cairns, Queensland: Camerawork Pty, 1991), 1 hour 22 mins
The Good Woman of Bangkok is a no-holds-barred look at the profession of prostitution and is filmed by legendary documentarist Dennis O'Rourke. He turns the camera on a young woman named Aoi, who allows O'Rourke to both film her and be her paid lover, in one of the most personal and multi-layered documentaries of...
Sample
directed by Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013; produced by Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013 (Cairns, Queensland: Camerawork Pty, 1991), 1 hour 22 mins
Description
The Good Woman of Bangkok is a no-holds-barred look at the profession of prostitution and is filmed by legendary documentarist Dennis O'Rourke. He turns the camera on a young woman named Aoi, who allows O'Rourke to both film her and be her paid lover, in one of the most personal and multi-layered documentaries of O'Rourke's canon. Born in a small Thai village and responsible to support her family, Aoi was drawn to prostitution as a source of inc...
The Good Woman of Bangkok is a no-holds-barred look at the profession of prostitution and is filmed by legendary documentarist Dennis O'Rourke. He turns the camera on a young woman named Aoi, who allows O'Rourke to both film her and be her paid lover, in one of the most personal and multi-layered documentaries of O'Rourke's canon. Born in a small Thai village and responsible to support her family, Aoi was drawn to prostitution as a source of income. Her career choice has an undeniable impact on her self-esteem and her outlook on life and love, and she candidly addresses both, lending the documentary a raw and authentic voice. O'Rourke is never seen on camera, but is the voice interviewing Aoi through the film, and she addresses him on-screen many times, adding a complex layer not typically seen in documentary film. Further blurring the lines of documentarist and participant, O'Rourke offers to buy her family farm, freeing her from the economic necessity to prostitute herself, but in a postscript to the film, O'Rourke returns a year later, and Aoi is still working in a massage parlor, denying herself and the film of a Hollywood happy ending. O'Rourke himself described the film as "...a metaphor for capitalism, here played out across the borders of race and culture, and about prostitution as a metaphor for all relations between men and women." He addressed his involvement in the film by saying, "I have exposed myself in order to force the audience to reconsider the whole nature of documentary film practice. Under the thrall of our separate desires, we are all implicated in some way."
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013
Author / Creator
Dennis O'Rourke, 1945-2013
Date Published / Released
1991
Publisher
Camerawork Pty
Topic / Theme
Prostitutes, Prostitution, Thai
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1991 by Camerawork Pty Ltd
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 3, Black Harvest
written by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-; directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 3 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1992), 1 hour 30 mins
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land...
Sample
written by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-; directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 3 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1992), 1 hour 30 mins
Description
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land and the labor. He stands to make 60%; the tribespeople 40%. Tribal wars and the drop in coffee prices on the world market conspire to d...
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land and the labor. He stands to make 60%; the tribespeople 40%. Tribal wars and the drop in coffee prices on the world market conspire to defeat the venture. Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Joe is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialize. As he organizes to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future. College Adult Black Harvest, the final film in the Highlands Trilogy, charts the progress of Joe Leahy in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He provides the money and the expertise; they supply the land and labor. But on the eve of success, the world coffee price collapses and tribal warfare erupts in the valley. Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Joe is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialize. As he organizes to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-, Joseph Madang, Popina Mai, Joe Leahy
Author / Creator
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-
Date Published / Released
1992
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Person Discussed
Joe Leahy
Topic / Theme
Ganiga, Biracial people, War, Social conflict, Plantations, Coffee, Tribal and national groups, Cultural change and history, Cultural identity, Anthropology, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1992. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 3, Black Harvest: Film Discussion
written by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-; directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 3 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1992), 28 mins
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land...
Sample
written by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-; directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 3 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1992), 28 mins
Description
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land and the labor. He stands to make 60%; the tribespeople 40%. Tribal wars and the drop in coffee prices on the world market conspire to d...
The third film of the renowned trilogy on Papua New Guinea joins First Contact and Joe Leahy's Neighbours in our collection. This film charts the progress of Joe in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He is to provide the money and the expertise; they are to supply the land and the labor. He stands to make 60%; the tribespeople 40%. Tribal wars and the drop in coffee prices on the world market conspire to defeat the venture. Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Joe is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialize. As he organizes to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future. College Adult Black Harvest, the final film in the Highlands Trilogy, charts the progress of Joe Leahy in convincing the Ganiga tribespeople to join him in a coffee growing venture. He provides the money and the expertise; they supply the land and labor. But on the eve of success, the world coffee price collapses and tribal warfare erupts in the valley. Always suspect because of his mixed-race status, Joe is in deep trouble with the tribespeople when his promises of riches fail to materialize. As he organizes to emigrate with his family to Australia, he is a saddened man with an uncertain future.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-
Author / Creator
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-
Date Published / Released
1992
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Person Discussed
Joe Leahy
Topic / Theme
Ganiga, Biracial people, War, Social conflict, Plantations, Coffee, Tribal and national groups, Cultural change and history, Film industry, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1992. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 2, Joe Leahy's Neighbors
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 2 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1994), 1 hour 30 mins
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlan...
Sample
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 2 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1994), 1 hour 30 mins
Description
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individuali...
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence. While Joe may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence level Ganiga 'neighbors,' who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity. Joe spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things. Filmmakers Connolly and Anderson lived for eighteen continuous months on the edge of Joe's plantation, in the 'no man's land' between Leahy and the Ganiga. Their lively, non-judgmental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism. College Adult This film is the followup of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970s. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence. While Joe may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence level Ganiga "neighbors," who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity. Joe spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things. Filmmakers Connolly and Anderson lived for eighteen continuous months on the edge of Joe's plantation, in the "no man's land" between Leahy and the Ganiga. Their lively, non-judgemental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-, Popina Mai, Tumul, Joseph Madang, Joe Leahy
Author / Creator
Bob Connolly, 1945-, Robin Anderson, 1948-2002
Date Published / Released
1988, 1994
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Person Discussed
Joe Leahy
Topic / Theme
Australian, Ganiga, Property rights, Coffee, Plantations, Tribal and national groups, Imperialism, Economic development, Cultural change and history, Anthropology, Cultural adaptation, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies, Australians
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1994. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 2, Joe Leahy's Neighbors: Film Discussion
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 2 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1994), 29 mins
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlan...
Sample
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 2 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1994), 29 mins
Description
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individuali...
This film is the follow up of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970's. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence. While Joe may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence level Ganiga 'neighbors,' who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity. Joe spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things. Filmmakers Connolly and Anderson lived for eighteen continuous months on the edge of Joe's plantation, in the 'no man's land' between Leahy and the Ganiga. Their lively, non-judgmental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism. College Adult This film is the followup of First Contact. It traces the fortunes of Joe Leahy, the mixed-race son of Australian explorer Michael Leahy, in his uneasy relationship with his tribal neighbors. Joe built his coffee plantation on land bought from the Ganiga in the mid 1970s. European educated, raised in the highlands of Papua, freed by his mixed race from the entanglements of tribal obligation, Joe leads a Western lifestyle governed by individualism and the pursuit of affluence. While Joe may live in Western grandeur, he is still surrounded by his subsistence level Ganiga "neighbors," who never let him forget the original source of his prosperity. Joe spends much of his waking hours just keeping the lid on things. Filmmakers Connolly and Anderson lived for eighteen continuous months on the edge of Joe's plantation, in the "no man's land" between Leahy and the Ganiga. Their lively, non-judgemental narrative eloquently captures the conflicting values of tribalism and capitalism.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-, Popina Mai, Tumul, Joseph Madang, Joe Leahy
Author / Creator
Bob Connolly, 1945-, Robin Anderson, 1948-2002
Date Published / Released
1988, 1994
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Person Discussed
Joe Leahy
Topic / Theme
Australian, Ganiga, Property rights, Coffee, Plantations, Tribal and national groups, Imperialism, Economic development, Cultural change and history, Anthropology, Cultural adaptation, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies, Australians
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1994. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Liberta
written by Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016 and Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012; directed by Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012 and Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012; produced by Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012 and Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012; performed by Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016 (Privately Published, 2012), 1 hour 20 mins
This documentary, directed by Kan Lume and Megan Wonowidjoy, is about an actress who candidly discusses her deep sorrow and contemplation of suicide.
Sample
written by Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016 and Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012; directed by Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012 and Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012; produced by Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012 and Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012; performed by Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016 (Privately Published, 2012), 1 hour 20 mins
Description
This documentary, directed by Kan Lume and Megan Wonowidjoy, is about an actress who candidly discusses her deep sorrow and contemplation of suicide.
Field of Study
American Film
Content Type
Documentary
Performer / Ensemble
Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016
Contributor
Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012, Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012
Author / Creator
Faye Kingslee, fl. 2009-2016, Kan Lume, fl. 2007-2012, Megan Wonowidjoyo, fl. 2012
Date Published / Released
2012
Publisher
Privately Published
Topic / Theme
Children, Documentary films, Sorrow, Suicides, Women
Copyright Message
Copyright © 2012 by Kan Lume
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Asian Insight, Indonesia: Unity In Diversity
directed by Arch Nicholson, 1941-1990; produced by John Temple, fl. 1976 and Don Murray, fl. 1962, in Asian Insight (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australia. National Film and Sound Archive, 1976), 51 mins
Nationalism, with its sense of unity, is something third world nations and those that have lived under colonialism don't take for granted. For many it is still an ambition. Made in 1976, this film examines the basic philosophies of President Soekarno and the nationalistic principals that no one had as yet succeede...
Sample
directed by Arch Nicholson, 1941-1990; produced by John Temple, fl. 1976 and Don Murray, fl. 1962, in Asian Insight (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australia. National Film and Sound Archive, 1976), 51 mins
Description
Nationalism, with its sense of unity, is something third world nations and those that have lived under colonialism don't take for granted. For many it is still an ambition. Made in 1976, this film examines the basic philosophies of President Soekarno and the nationalistic principals that no one had as yet succeeded in transforming into practical reality in Indonesia.
Date Written / Recorded
1976
Field of Study
Asian Studies
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
John Temple, fl. 1976, Don Murray, fl. 1962
Author / Creator
Arch Nicholson, 1941-1990
Date Published / Released
1976
Publisher
Australia. National Film and Sound Archive
Series
Asian Insight
Person Discussed
Sukarno, 1901-1970
Topic / Theme
Indonesian people, Presidents, Nationalism, Indonesians
Copyright Message
Copyright © 2015 by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Fearless: Stories from Asian Women, Fearless - Stories from Asian Women: Heart on the Sleeve
written by Mathew Kelley, fl. 2003; directed by Mathew Kelley, fl. 2003; produced by Peter Du Cane, fl. 2003 and Samantha Kelley, fl. 2003, in Fearless: Stories from Asian Women (Acton, Australian Capital Territory: Australia. National Film and Sound Archive, 2003), 26 mins
Although Australia has a first-world economy, hidden within it a third-world industry thrives. Outworkers sewing at home are paid per piece by clothing companies. They work to unforgiving deadlines, often seven days a week, for a pitiful few dollars per hour. Hundreds of thousands of workers from non-English speak...
Sample
written by Mathew Kelley, fl. 2003; directed by Mathew Kelley, fl. 2003; produced by Peter Du Cane, fl. 2003 and Samantha Kelley, fl. 2003, in Fearless: Stories from Asian Women (Acton, Australian Capital Territory: Australia. National Film and Sound Archive, 2003), 26 mins
Description
Although Australia has a first-world economy, hidden within it a third-world industry thrives. Outworkers sewing at home are paid per piece by clothing companies. They work to unforgiving deadlines, often seven days a week, for a pitiful few dollars per hour. Hundreds of thousands of workers from non-English speaking backgrounds suffer in these archaic conditions. They have no sick pay, leave, superannuation or insurance. Now, Hien Tran, former...
Although Australia has a first-world economy, hidden within it a third-world industry thrives. Outworkers sewing at home are paid per piece by clothing companies. They work to unforgiving deadlines, often seven days a week, for a pitiful few dollars per hour. Hundreds of thousands of workers from non-English speaking backgrounds suffer in these archaic conditions. They have no sick pay, leave, superannuation or insurance. Now, Hien Tran, former Vietnamese refugee turned union representative, is speaking up for her fellow outworkers, trapped by their circumstances and financial need.
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Field of Study
Asian Studies
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Ian Pugsley, fl. 1988-2014, Peter Du Cane, fl. 2003, Samantha Kelley, fl. 2003, Chris Norman, Chris Masters
Author / Creator
Mathew Kelley, fl. 2003
Date Published / Released
2003
Publisher
Australia. National Film and Sound Archive
Series
Fearless: Stories from Asian Women
Speaker / Narrator
Chris Masters
Person Discussed
Tran Hien, fl. 2003
Topic / Theme
Vietnamese, Australian, Labor unions, Immigrant populations, Factory workers, Labor force, Women, Australians
Copyright Message
A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Mask Productions. Produced and developed with the assistance of ScreenWest and the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia. Produced in association with SBS Independent.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 1, First Contact
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 1 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1983), 52 mins
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New...
Sample
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 1 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1983), 52 mins
Description
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Ston...
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Stone Age people who had no concept of human life beyond their valleys. This amazing footage forms the basis of First Contact. Yet there is more to this extraordinary film than the footage that was recovered. Fifty years later some of the participants are still alive and vividly recall their unique experience. The Papuans tell how they thought the white men were their ancestors, bleached by the sun and returned from the dead. They were amazed at the artifacts of 20th century life such as tin cans, phonographs and airplanes. When shown their younger, innocent selves in the found footage, they recall the darker side of their relationship with these mysterious beings with devastating weapons. Australian Dan Leahy describes his fear at being outnumbered by primitive looking people with whom he could not speak. He felt he had to dominate them for his own survival and to continue his quest for gold. First Contact is one of those rare films that holds an audience spellbound. Humor and pathos are combined in this classic story of colonialism, told by the people who were there. College Adult This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Stone Age people who had no concept of human life beyond their valleys. This amazing footage forms the basis of First Contact. Yet there is more to this extraordinary film than the footage that was recovered. Fifty years later some of the participants are still alive and vividly recall their unique experience. They were amazed at the artifacts of 20th century life such as tin cans, phonographs and airplanes. When shown their younger, innocent selves in the found footage, they recall the darker side of their relationship with these mysterious beings with devastating weapons. Australian Dan Leahy describes his fear at being outnumbered by primitive looking people with whom he could not speak. He felt he had to dominate them for his own survival and to continue his quest for gold. First Contact is one of those rare films that holds an audience spell-bound. Humor and pathos are combined in this classic story of colonialism, told by the people who were there.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Documentary
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-, James Leahy, Daniel Leahy, 1912-1991, Richard Oxenburgh, fl. 1969-1982
Author / Creator
Bob Connolly, 1945-, Robin Anderson, 1948-2002
Date Published / Released
1983
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Speaker / Narrator
Richard Oxenburgh, fl. 1969-1982
Person Discussed
Daniel Leahy, 1912-1991, James Leahy, Michael Leahy, 1901-1979
Topic / Theme
Papua New Guinean, Imperialism, Tribal and national groups, Cultural identity, Intercultural communication, Cultural change and history, Gold mines and mining, Anthropology, Cultural adaptation, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies, Papua New Guineans
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1983. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×
Highlands Trilogy, 1, First Contact: Filmmaker Interviews
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 1 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1983), 38 mins
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New...
Sample
directed by Bob Connolly, 1945- and Robin Anderson, 1948-2002; produced by Robin Anderson, 1948-2002 and Bob Connolly, 1945-, in Highlands Trilogy, 1 (New York, NY: Filmakers Library, 1983), 38 mins
Description
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Ston...
This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Stone Age people who had no concept of human life beyond their valleys. This amazing footage forms the basis of First Contact. Yet there is more to this extraordinary film than the footage that was recovered. Fifty years later some of the participants are still alive and vividly recall their unique experience. The Papuans tell how they thought the white men were their ancestors, bleached by the sun and returned from the dead. They were amazed at the artifacts of 20th century life such as tin cans, phonographs and airplanes. When shown their younger, innocent selves in the found footage, they recall the darker side of their relationship with these mysterious beings with devastating weapons. Australian Dan Leahy describes his fear at being outnumbered by primitive looking people with whom he could not speak. He felt he had to dominate them for his own survival and to continue his quest for gold. First Contact is one of those rare films that holds an audience spellbound. Humor and pathos are combined in this classic story of colonialism, told by the people who were there. College Adult This is the classic film of cultural confrontation that is as compelling today as when it was first released over 20 years ago. When Columbus and Cortez ventured into the New World there was no camera to record the drama of this first encounter. But, in 1930, when the Leahy brothers penetrated the interior of New Guinea in search of gold, they carried a movie camera. Thus they captured on film their unexpected confrontation with thousands of Stone Age people who had no concept of human life beyond their valleys. This amazing footage forms the basis of First Contact. Yet there is more to this extraordinary film than the footage that was recovered. Fifty years later some of the participants are still alive and vividly recall their unique experience. They were amazed at the artifacts of 20th century life such as tin cans, phonographs and airplanes. When shown their younger, innocent selves in the found footage, they recall the darker side of their relationship with these mysterious beings with devastating weapons. Australian Dan Leahy describes his fear at being outnumbered by primitive looking people with whom he could not speak. He felt he had to dominate them for his own survival and to continue his quest for gold. First Contact is one of those rare films that holds an audience spell-bound. Humor and pathos are combined in this classic story of colonialism, told by the people who were there.
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Field of Study
Anthropology
Content Type
Interview
Contributor
Robin Anderson, 1948-2002, Bob Connolly, 1945-, James Leahy, Daniel Leahy, 1912-1991, Peter Thomson
Author / Creator
Bob Connolly, 1945-, Robin Anderson, 1948-2002
Date Published / Released
1983
Publisher
Filmakers Library
Series
Highlands Trilogy
Person Discussed
James Leahy, Daniel Leahy, 1912-1991, Peter Thomson, Michael Leahy, 1901-1979
Topic / Theme
Papua New Guinean, Imperialism, Tribal and national groups, Cultural identity, Intercultural communication, Cultural change and history, Gold mines and mining, Anthropology, Cultural adaptation, Ethnography, Ethnic Studies, Papua New Guineans
Copyright Message
Copyright © 1983. Used by permission of Filmakers Library. All rights reserved.
Country of Origin
Australia
×