Kelrick Martin / Australia / 2015 / 56 mins / English and Murrinpatha with English subtitles / Documentary
“Revolutionary, revelatory. A must-see.” – Sunday Age.
In Australia’s first ever musical documentary, the inmates of the notorious Berrimah Prison in the Northern Territory share their stories, experiences and feelings through songs they helped to create. Berrimah Prison has been described as Dickensian; first opened to hold 115 prisoners, but by the time it closed in 2014 it was housing more than 800. The vast majority of inmates are Indigenous. Alcohol and drugs drive much of the crime and over 90% of prisoners have experienced domestic violence. Through hip-hop, blues, gospel and reggae, the prisoners mesh personal, intimate stories with song to create a portrait of life in a society with one of the highest incarceration rates in the world.
This film has been exempt from classification and is restricted to people over 15 years. People under 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
WHEN
Where
Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)
Melbourne
AWARDS & APPEARANCES
Winner: Best Direction (Standalone) – Australian Directors’ Guild Awards 2015
Winner: Best Humanitarian / Investigative Film – Banff Media Festival 2015
Winner: Best Documentary – WA Screen Awards 2015
ImagineNATIVE 2015
POST FILM Q&A
With director Kelrick Martin and composer Casey Bennetto. Moderated by Eugenia Flynn.
