Award winning film ‘In My Blood It Runs’ will be showcased for delegates at the 2020 Symposium in Geelong.
Filmed over 3 years in the Northern Territory, the multi-award winning film follows ten-year-old Dujuan as he traverses an Arrernte education alongside his western education. There are numerous themes in the film that will make it an excellent primer on the opening day of the Symposium.
The Making of
In My Blood It Runs was shot in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Sandy Bore Homeland and Borroloola Community, Northern Territory, Australia over three years. However Maya, the director, has been making films alongside Arrernte Elders and families at an NGO called Akeyulerrre for a decade.
This film arose organically from those relationships.The intimacy of the film and the delicacy with which it has represented the complex struggles of Dujuan and his families lives has been achieved through a deep and collaborative process between the filmmaking team and the family.
The Arrernte and Garrwa families in the film and the board of Advisors to the film are core partners and have been involved in robust consultation at all stages of production. This has been a deep and ongoing process to ensure that each individual comprehensively understands the terms of involvement.
Synopsis
Ten-year-old Dujuan is a child-healer, a good hunter and speaks three languages. As he shares his wisdom of history and the complex world around him we see his spark and intelligence. Yet Dujuan is ‘failing’ in school and facing increasing scrutiny from welfare and the police.
As he travels perilously close to incarceration, his family fight to give him a strong Arrernte education alongside his western education lest he becomes another statistic. We walk with him as he grapples with these pressures, shares his truths and somewhere in-between finds space to dream, imagine and hope for his future self.
The film will be shown in a private screening for delegates at the National Indigenous Education and Boarding Symposium in Geloong. From 5,30pm on Tuesday 17 March, 2020. No tickets will be available to members of the public.
Visit the film makers’ website for more information about the film and to watch a trailer.