Marco Vera and director Rachel Perkins look at a mural in Mexicali
Jennifer Prediger
Australian director Rachel Perkins wanted the world to see Aboriginal people in a different way. Their culture had been negatively represented in cinema repeatedly over the years, and Perkins wanted to change that. In Bran Nue Dae, the story of a marginalized people is told in a vibrant, musical comedy that reached an audience of more than 8.5 million people in Australia alone.
On Film Forward’s recent trip to Mexico, Perkins spoke to students at UABC in Mexicali. “We’re using film to bring harmony to our nation, to give our country some heritage,” she said. “And we’re succeeding. It’s a wonderful thing making art that also creates social change.”
The director talks about witnessing the film’s impact on audiences and her experiences in Mexico in this Film Forward video:
Perkins’ film puts the viewer in the shoes of the Aborigine as audiences are transformed with catchy tunes lyrics like, “There’s nothing I would rather be than to be an aborigine.” A new understanding, a sense of pride, and a ‘brand new day’ is born out of this film.
