Worth: $17.00
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Cast:
Trevor Jamieson, Scott Rankin, Sophia Marinos
Intro:
“…a fascinating and deeply human portrait of Australia’s most famous indigenous artist.”
The late Albert Namatjira is unquestionably Australia’s most famous Aboriginal artist, with his works hanging in galleries all around the world, and even somewhere inside Buckingham Palace. But like so many high profile indigenous Australians, his story is touched by sadness and tragedy. While he was featured on a postage stamp, Namatjira was also mistreated by the government. His paintings are currently tied up in a copyright bind that has long prevented Namatjira’s relatives – many of whom continue to paint in his watercolour landscape style – from seeing any of the considerable revenue generated by his work posthumously. The Namatjira Project – which includes exhibitions, workshops, a stage play, and a public campaign – was set up in an effort to raise funds to buy back the copyright to Namatjira’s work, and it’s the focus of Sera Davies’ sprawling but cogent eponymous documentary.
With the creation of the Namatjira Project stage play as its narrative centre, the doco shoots off in many directions, but the emerging theme is what extraordinary good can be achieved when Australia’s black and white communities come together in the spirit of peace and harmony. The work of Albert Namatjira was introduced to the world largely through the artist’s discovery by fellow painter and Anglo-Australian, Rex Battarbee, and the pair would also eventually become close and long-lasting friends. In a similar vein, The Namatjira Project is the result of intercultural cross-pollination, with the stage play a powerful collaboration between writer/director, Scott Rankin, and his charismatic leading man, Trevor Jamieson. Wedged in amongst the stinging sadness and constantly ebbing waves of pain, these relationships dose Namatjira Project with a welcome sense of warmth and positivity.
Though splicing together multiple narrative strands, debut director, Sera Davies, crafts something clear and concise with Namatjira Project. She expertly tells Albert Namatjira’s story through interviews and historical footage while also delivering an entertaining “behind the curtain” showbiz doco, as the stage play’s creators sweat on it all coming together and then smile with shock and wonder as they’re later swept off to perform in London. The plight of Namatjira’s descendants, meanwhile, is treated with dignity and sensitivity. When stitched together, it makes for a fascinating and deeply human portrait of the complicated life, stunning work, and unfairly misplaced legacy of Australia’s most famous indigenous artist.
