New rom-com brings Arnhem Land love story to Sydney Film Festival screen
In a First Nations romantic comedy debuting in Sydney this week, a new writer-director has used her lived experience to tell the story of young love in a remote Northern Territory community.
Denzel Marika and Cindy Rostron play young lovers in Maŋutji (Catching Eyes), which was shot in East Arnhem Land. (Supplied: Greg Spiller)
Maŋutji (Catching Eyes), a short film shot in the Arnhem Land community of Yirrkala, is making its debut at the Sydney Film Festival.
The romantic comedy stars model Cindy Rostron and first-time actor Denzel Marika, who play love interests Muthali and Rakay.
Maŋutji is one of five films screening at the festival today that were created after a nation-wide call-out for First Nations stories about love.
In her home of Yirrkala in the Northern Territory's far north-east, Siena Mayutu Wurmarri Stubbs knows romance can be like football: a spectator sport.
"If the community knows that you are allowed to date someone through Gurrutu [Yolŋu kinship] … and you are perceived in public together, that confirms that you are a thing," she said.
The budding love between two football players, and the interest it attracts from their gossiping peers in north-east Arnhem Land, is the subject of a new short film written and directed by Stubbs premiering at the Sydney Film Festival (SFF) this week.
The film, debuting in Sydney this week, is Denzel Marika's first acting role. (Supplied: Jack Bullen)
"It's about being perceived — who you want to commit your true self to, knowing when you can and being brave enough to release yourself to that form of love in the public eye," Stubbs said.
The romantic comedy, called Maŋutji (Catching Eyes), marks Stubbs's debut as a writer and director.
The word Maŋutji has multiple meanings in Yolŋu-Matha, alluding to the association between a glance and a love interest.
Pointing to her own eye, she explains: "So this is the sign language for your lover".
Libby Collins and Siena Mayutu Wurmarri Stubbs worked together to bring the short film to life. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)
Written and performed in Yolŋu-Matha, Stubbs's rom-com stars Bununggu and Warraingu model Cindy Rostron and local football idol Denzel Marika.
Rostron and Marika play Muthali and Rakay, with their loved-up characters all side-eyes, smiles and whispers.
Maŋutji producer Libby Collins said finding the two lead actors had been "really exciting".
Cindy Rostron and Denzel Marika star as the loved-up leads in Maŋutji (Catching Eyes). (Supplied: Jack Bullen)
"[Rostron] is obviously an incredible performer … She learned Yolŋu-Matha in like three days to do this role," she said.
Collins said one of her favourite scenes in the short film was a tribute to Baz Luhrmann's famous screen adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
"The fish tank sc
📌 Kaynak
Bu özet ABC News Australia kaynağından otomatik derlenmiştir. Tamamı için orijinal habere gidin.
Orijinal haberi oku →