Gurrumul

A documentary that explores a very shy man who plays a guitar upside down and sings of home of place of identity of soul. Sadly dying to young. A refrain that relates to so many. Buy some cds and on a moon filled night play and be taken to some wonderful places.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an iconic Australian Indigenous singer songwriter, musician and performer, from remote Elcho Island. Blind from birth, he was said to be able to play most musical instruments he picked up rapidly and effortlessly, including his signature left-handed playing of a standard right-handed guitar, held upside down. This film provides enormous insights into the culture and priorities of Australian Aboriginal societies, which are said to have endured for some 40-60,000 years in relative harmony with the land. Quite an achievement, when you consider what a mess us whitefellas have made in less than 300 years. The film doesn't shy away from difficult moments, nor from the challenges faced by remote indigenous societies where English may be their third or fourth language. The inclusion of archival home movie footage and recent interviews with community and family members added to the reality. I don't think the film quite got to a satisfactory explanation of Gurrumul's extraordinary relationship with bass player, manager and collaborator Michael Hohnen. I'd seen glimpses of this when seeing Gurrumul perform live, with Hohnen's gentle assistance; I didn't understand it then, and frankly still don't. But there's little doubt to me that without this relationship, none of us would be aware of an extraordinary talent. There's about the right amount of music - enough to make you seek it out if you're unfamiliar with it and you like what you see. The film does underline the vast gap between Indigenous and European culture and sensibilities, and in my view it has to be approached with an open mind, as it may not conform to common expectations. But this is a strength, as long as you can let it in.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an iconic Australian Indigenous singer songwriter, musician and performer, from remote Elcho Island. Blind from birth, he was said to be able to play most musical instruments he picked up rapidly and effortlessly, including his signature left-handed playing of a standard right-handed guitar, held upside down. This film provides enormous insights into the culture and priorities of Australian Aboriginal societies, which are said to have endured for some 40-60,000 years in relative harmony with the land. Quite an achievement, when you consider what a mess us whitefellas have made in less than 300 years. The film doesn't shy away from difficult moments, nor from the challenges faced by remote indigenous societies where English may be their third or fourth language. The inclusion of archival home movie footage and recent interviews with community and family members added to the reality. I don't think the film quite got to a satisfactory explanation of Gurrumul's extraordinary relationship with bass player, manager and collaborator Michael Hohnen. I'd seen glimpses of this when seeing Gurrumul perform live, with Hohnen's gentle assistance; I didn't understand it then, and frankly still don't. But there's little doubt to me that without this relationship, none of us would be aware of an extraordinary talent. There's about the right amount of music - enough to make you seek it out if you're unfamiliar with it and you like what you see. The film does underline the vast gap between Indigenous and European culture and sensibilities, and in my view it has to be approached with an open mind, as it may not conform to common expectations. But this is a strength, as long as you can let it in.

A documentary that explores a very shy man who plays a guitar upside down and sings of home of place of identity of soul. Sadly dying to young. A refrain that relates to so many. Buy some cds and on a moon filled night play and be taken to some wonderful places.