PUBLISHED03 Nov 2020
Stronger Together Doc-list
Five documentaries showcasing the power of unity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
Stories can give the most vulnerable in our communities a voice, providing a rare insight into their lives and the world they live in.
As discrimination, xenophobia and racism sweep across our world; it is our duty to learn from those who are oppressed and to stand with them to demand change.
Documentaries are compelling tools for change, as they contextualise the lives of others and connect us at our most human level, educating and uniting audiences in action.
Rosemary's Way
Synopsis:
An effervescent facilitator and mother figure, Multicultural Liaison Officer Rosemary is undoubtedly a force of nature. Isolation in Auburn’s migrant community is a huge obstacle, and cultural norms mean that women are often tied to the house or a limited locale. Rosemary, with her larger-than-life spirit and generosity, works tirelessly to draw the women out of their homes and into society. She hosts a lively African Women’s Dinner Dance and takes them on a trip to the Blue Mountains and the NSW South Coast – introducing them to an Australia they’ve never seen before. In this heartfelt documentary, we hear the women’s stories of abuse and estrangement, as we witness their profound courage and endurance.
Where to watch – Sydney Film Festival
Undermined: Tales from the Kimberley
Synopsis
Australia’s vast and unspoiled Kimberley region is under threat, with mining, pastoralism and irrigated agriculture driving an unprecedented land grab. Undermined investigates the politics of an area ow branded “the future economic powerhouse of Australia”, and what this means for our First People and their unique cultural landscapes. As pressure from industry exposes the limits of Indigenous land rights, what will remain of over 200 remote Aboriginal communities? We follow young leader Albert Wiggan, veteran cattleman Kevin Oscar and Senior Elder June Davis through David-and-Goliath battle to preserve their homelands, asking the question: for whose benefit is this development?
She's Beautiful When She's Angry
Synopsis:
A provocative and rousing look at the birth and legacy of the women’s liberation movement in the late 1960s, and a tribute to the outrageous, often brilliant women behind it, taking us from the founding of the National Organization for Women (NOW), when ladies wore hats and gloves, to the emergence of more radical factions such as WITCH (Women’s International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell!). Using never-before-seen archive footage and directly confronting issues of race, sexual preference and leadership within the movement, this thrilling, scandalous, and frequently hilarious documentary brilliantly captures the spirit of the time and the ongoing struggle for equality.
Gayby Baby
Synopsis:
Kids being raised by same-sex couples are growing in numbers worldwide. We are in a Gayby-Boom. But who are these kids? What do they think about having same-sex parents? And do they face different issues to other kids? During the global marriage equality movement, these questions have become more pertinent than ever. Told from the perspective of the kids, Gayby Baby is an intimate and sometimes humorous account of four children and their families.