From a remote group of squatters in the Californian desert to an Aboriginal elder seeking to keep ancient knowledge alive, from content moderators to fetishists, these films look at ties that bind, and help forge identity, through examining the acceptance or rejection of power and responsibility, and the forces that enable them to make those decisions.
Desert Coffee
In one of the poorest regions of the world’s richest country, adjacent to an aerial bombing range and amidst the harsh desert known as the California Badlands, lies Slab City. Its mostly retired 150-odd residents call this decommissioned and uncontrolled town, “the last free place in America” and a de facto enclave of peaceful anarchy.
Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
Internationally acclaimed artist and musician Djalu Gurruwiwi is a custodian of ancient knowledge and musical skills that few can rival. Ben Strunin’s film follows the passing of his Yolngu heritage on to his sons, who may or may not be ready to take on the mantle as part of a new generation of tribal elders. In collaboration with musician Gotye and artist Ghostpatrol, Westwind shows how traditions are shaped by, and find their place in, the modern world.
The Cleaners
Content moderation may not seem like the most interesting of jobs, but the work done by people who select “delete” or “ignore” shape the world that we know online. This documentary examines the lives of these “digital cleaners”, employed by Silicon Valley giants such as Facebook and Google, and the challenges and mental toll of living on the frontline of fake news, extremism and radicalisation.
Graceful Girls
Calisthenics is a uniquely Australian competitive sport that involves rhythmic gymnastics, dance, fastidiously tailored costumes and highly theatrical musical interpretations. Director Olivia Peniston-Bird's award-winning film follows 26-year-old Brianna Lee, three-time runner-up of the most prestigious calisthenics award, Most Graceful Girl, as she sets out to win over much younger competitors.
Fetishes
Over the last two decades, Nick Broomfield has become one of the documentary world's most polarising figures. His 1996 film Fetishes explores business at Pandora's Box, a high-end house of bondage in Manhattan, where clients pay Mistresses to restrain, wrestle, infantilise and punish them for $175 an hour. Broomfield explores how power is transferred through these various activities via interviews with Mistresses and clients, and observations of the goings-on in Pandora’s Box.
