PUTUPARRI AND THE RAINMAKERS


Australia, 2015, 97 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Nicole Ma.

A must for those interested in aboriginal culture.

This film is set in Western Australia, at Fitzroy Crossing and the area around it. But the action also shows visits by a broad aboriginal family into the Great Sandy Desert to go back to rediscover and visit their homeland.

The Aboriginal man at the centre of the film is Tony Lawford who grew up in the area. He is back to his own tribal name, remembers the past, his marriages, his children, his drinking and making a mess of his life. However, he got his life together, became interested in local aboriginal culture and especially art work, and a huge canvas that was displayed in Canberra and which was brought back to Fitzroy Crossing.

The film also offers some explanation about the nature of aboriginal paintings, the subjects, the style, the incorporation of myths and history.

Particularly striking are Tony’s grandparents, Spider and Dolly – and the audience responds very well to their presence, Spider and his artwork, in some flashbacks and the initial journey into the Great Centre Desert, the discovery of a waterhole, the bringing up of the water, corroboree and dance; and then another trip to this homeland when there was plenty of water; with Sandy Spider and Dolly in their old age, having moved into a residential home for the elderly, but making this one last pilgrimage.

Fine photography, and incorporating video footage made during the previous trips.


1. The title? The focus on Tony Lawford, his ancestors, country? The Canning Track, Canning, the consequences, reparation?

2. The present footage, combined with that of the past the trips? The focus on persons, country, politics? Aboriginal history and issues?

3. The past footage, the photos, the film and the several visits and the differences, grandparents, Tony Lawford growing older?

4. Tony Lawford’s focus, speaking to camera, his own life story? The presentation of his grandparents, their children? His story, as young, and Fitzroy Crossing, marriage, drink? New family? To the ACT? Visits, change, art, heritage? The care for Spider and Dolly? The achievement? Peace?

5. The visuals of the country, Great Sandy Desert, five days of travel, fire, water, digging, the finding of the water flowing, immersion, performance of the rituals? The dance? Abundance of water, later visits, dry, digging again?

6. The importance of, the stories? The exhibition? Care, home, being in country?

7. The older generation, Spider and Dolly, their lives, art, the heritage, ageing, the visits, hospital, Aged Care Centre, the importance of the final trip in the visuals, the old people?

8. Succeeding generations, age, pilgrimages, dancing?

9. The Canning story, the vast tapestry, cared for in Canberra, down-to-earth with everybody looking at it, walking on it, the preservation, the interpretation of the desert and the track?

10. 1960s, the following 50 years, hardship and oppression?

11. The stories, the different generations, failures – but optimism?