| Banduk | |
| Director: | Di Drew |
| Producer: | Penelope Spence |
| Starring: | Bayulma Marika Garry McDonald Banduk Marika |
| Music: | Geoff Harvey |
| Cinematography: | Steve Dobson |
| Editing: | Don Saunders |
| Studio: | Nine Network |
| Runtime: | 90 mins |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
Banduk is a 1985 Australian television film shot in Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territory of Australia.[1] [2]
There is no dialogue in the film; the story is told in its imagery. The boy and girl (siblings) in the story (Banduk and Yalumul) realise that the ice-cream van owners are smuggling native animals out of Australia, including one of the Yolngu sacred animals, the red-collared lorikeet, or lindrij. With the help of Banduk's grandfather, they manage to trap the smugglers and are given a reward.[3] [2]
The sub-plot involves the children raising money to buy musical instruments for their band.[2]
The cast is as follows:[2]
Renowned Yolngu artist Banduk Marika served as Aboriginal consultant, and also played the role of Aunt in the film. Roy Marika, Banduk's uncle and renowned artist, plays the grandfather.[2]
The film was made by Channel 9 (now Nine Network) for the Second European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Drama Exchange for children, and released on Channel 9 in July 1985.[2] It was released in the UK by Thames Television.[4]
Cinema Papers gives the film a lukewarm review,[2] but The Sydney Morning Herald (Deirdre McPherson) called the film charming in its simplicity, and Bayulma Marika "most appealing as Banduk".[3]