by Shayley Blair
Streets of Colour is a gripping cautionary tale depicting a violently racist Western Sydney. The film, by director Ronnie S. Riskalla, exposes fatal possible outcomes when the cultural and humanistic benefits of multiculturalism appear to be ignored, and because of mismanagement of vital issues, the streets are left prone to conflict. The story was inspired by Riskalla’s personal experience of growing up in Mt Druitt.
A special screening of the film, with an accompanying Q and A, will take place at the Parliament of NSW Theatrette this Wednesday September 20, with a focus on examining issues raised by the film, as a strategy to impose greater restrictions against neo-nazi behaviour, through solid laws with serious consequences for perpetrators.
In Riskalla’s filmic representation of the “streets of colour”, residents fall into racial gangs to enable survival of a jungle which is notably devoid of trees, and where predators roam in packs organised according to ingrained beliefs based on appearance. This portrayal of Sydney’s western suburbs perhaps signifies past neglect by those who have the power and funding to build these suburbs into more thriving environments.
As has been highlighted in Erin Free’s FilmInk review of Streets of Colour, the gritty drama exposes a part of Australia miles from the sparkling coastline and ravishing wild beauty more often shown in our “Aussie-wood” films.
A new legislative move in the form of the Crimes amendment (Nazi Symbols and Salutes) Bill 2023, is a positive step towards rectifying the impacts of violent and bullying gangs. The bill brings hope to these matters, by taking away symbols that have been wielded as weapons to create terror in a mimicry of the horrific original use of these symbols.
“Ensuring that neo-nazi right-wing ultra-nationalist groups and their salutes are banned in NSW and every state and territory in this country, is one way we can overcome divisive attitudes and behaviour,” Michael Kolokossian, Executive Director Armenian National Committee of Australia and Representative on the Joint Justice Initiative, stated.
The organisations and individuals behind this initiative, which is a call to action by the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek communities of Australia, are co-hosting this special film event screening, alongside Dr Joe McGirr MP (Independent Member for Wagga Wagga), and The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Michael Gencher, Acting CEO of NSW Jewish Board of Deputies proposes that there is still a need for conversation about issues of “racial vilification, of offensive behaviour towards minority communities.” He has summarised key reasons for a slow rate of change, when we are supposed to be more advanced as a society and already learned from mistakes – such as those spotlighted in the film – stating: “We are not getting better as a society – the message hasn’t reached the right people and in ways they can be taught to understand things.”
Reinforcing the importance of working harder towards change, Dr Joe McGirr emphasised in an interview that people need to be educated and reminded that the atrocities in history under nazi banners, must never happen again. McGirr says he has been motivated to co-host the screening with the hope of promoting education and raising awareness.
The Q and A panel will also consist of cast and crew from Streets of Colour and special guests, to share an exploration of themes related to the film and the new Crimes amendment bill.
