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Ten Canoes

  • 2006
  • Unrated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
5K
YOUR RATING
Ten Canoes (2006)
Theatrical Trailer from Palm Pictures
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
6 Photos
AdventureComedyDrama

In Australia's Northern Territory, a man tells us a story of his people and his land. It's about an older man, Minygululu, who has three wives and realizes that his younger brother Dayindi m... Read allIn Australia's Northern Territory, a man tells us a story of his people and his land. It's about an older man, Minygululu, who has three wives and realizes that his younger brother Dayindi may try to steal away the youngest wife.In Australia's Northern Territory, a man tells us a story of his people and his land. It's about an older man, Minygululu, who has three wives and realizes that his younger brother Dayindi may try to steal away the youngest wife.

  • Directors
    • Rolf de Heer
    • Peter Djigirr
  • Writer
    • Rolf de Heer
  • Stars
    • Crusoe Kurddal
    • Jamie Gulpilil
    • Richard Birrinbirrin
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Rolf de Heer
      • Peter Djigirr
    • Writer
      • Rolf de Heer
    • Stars
      • Crusoe Kurddal
      • Jamie Gulpilil
      • Richard Birrinbirrin
    • 42User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos1

    Ten Canoes
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch Ten Canoes

    Photos6

    David Gulpilil in Ten Canoes (2006)
    Ten Canoes (2006)
    Ten Canoes (2006)
    Ten Canoes (2006)
    Ten Canoes (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Crusoe Kurddal
    • Ridjimiraril
    Jamie Gulpilil
    • Dayindi
    • (as Jamie Dayindi Gulpilil Dalaithngu)
    • …
    Richard Birrinbirrin
    • Birrinbirrin
    Peter Minygululu
    • Minygululu
    Frances Djulibing
    • Nowalingu
    David Gulpilil
    David Gulpilil
    • The Storyteller
    • (as David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu)
    Sonia Djarrabalminym
    • Banalandju
    Cassandra Malangarri Baker
    • Munandjarra
    Philip Gudthaykudthay
    • The Sorcerer
    Peter Djigirr
    • Canoeist…
    Michael Dawu
    • Canoeist…
    Bobby Bunungurr
    • Canoeist…
    Johnny Buniyira
    • Canoeist…
    Billy Black
    • Canoeist…
    Steven Wilinydjanu Maliburr
    • Canoeist…
    Carl Dhalurruma
    • Canoeist…
    Kathy Gonun
    • Birrinbirrin's Wife #1
    Jennifer Djenana
    • Birrinbirrin's Wife #2
    • Directors
      • Rolf de Heer
      • Peter Djigirr
    • Writer
      • Rolf de Heer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The canoes in the film were made according to original tribal methods, using directions from tribal elders who had not made them for some fifty years.
    • Quotes

      The group: [all walking in a line]

      Canoeist: Everyone stop!

      [all stop and turn]

      The Storyteller: That one is Djigirr. Djigirr talk too much, but maybe he heard something.

      Canoeist: I refuse to walk at the end. Someone ahead keeps farting.

      The group: [laughter] Not me. Not me.

      Canoeist: It's you again. You're always so silent. Silent but deadly. Admit it.

      Canoeist: Alright, it's me.

      Canoeist: You're rotten inside.

      Canoeist: I'm rotten inside.

      Canoeist: You get to the end of line.

    • Alternate versions
      There are currently three versions of the film:
      • (1) the Yolngu languages dialogue version with English subtitles and narration storytelling spoken in English by David Gulpilil;
      • (2) the Yolngu languages dialogue version with English subtitles and narration storytelling spoken in Mandalpingu by David Gulpilil;
      • (3) the Yolngu language only version without any subtitles
    • Connections
      Edited into Terror Nullius (2018)

    User reviews42

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    National Geographic documentary with dramatic overtones
    "Ten Canoes" resembles a National Geographic documentary with dramatic overtones and is sometimes hard to follow due to the thick accent of the narrator but it's nevertheless absorbing due in part to its very oddness, being a story about aboriginal Australians (though written, directed and shot by a Caucasian team headed by director Rolf de Heer). Structurally it is a story within a story about a how a tribe in the pre-colonial period handled the sudden disappearance of one of its female members. The story allows de Heer to illustrate how members of this primitive community were not so very different from ourselves in their essential human characteristics. The mere placement of a group of naked, primitive people as central characters in a fictional motion picture drama is, to Western eyes, enough to command the attention. The more or less constant narration tends to hinder dramatic development so that we never connect deeply with any of the characters yet we empathize with their predicaments. Generally speaking, it paints a sympathetic picture of a people whom fate has brutalized and who now are only beginning to recover and get back a sense of who they are and what they come from, in part through films like this one.
    helpful•7
    2
    • mukava991
    • May 14, 2012

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 29, 2006 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official sites
      • Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund (Australia)
      • Vertigo Productions
    • Languages
      • Aboriginal
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Muoi Chiêc Thuyên Môc
    • Filming locations
      • Arafura Swamp, Northern Territory, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Adelaide Film Festival
      • Fandango Australia
      • Fandango
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • A$2,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $283,654
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $14,076
      • Jun 3, 2007
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,360,030
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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