In these fast and modern times, the Numurindi people are still guided by the seasons and stories of the Dreamtime. This observational documentary focuses on Moses Numamurdirdi and his family’s fight to hold onto their culture and ways in an ever-changing world.

Five Seasons explores the lifestyle of the Numurindidi people of South East Arnhemland in the Northern Territory’s Gulf of Carpentaria. Their world is guided by the weather, which consists of five distinct seasons.   Moses Numamurdirdi a senior custodian of the region introduces the viewer to a way of that life that combines a cultural knowledge of thousands of years with the benefits of the modern world.

52 minute documentary
Writer: Steven McGregor and Danielle Maclean
Director: Steven McGregor

The Numurindi people have developed a culture where all things past and present including the weather are interrelated. This relationship extends to previous generations, together with the animal and plant kingdom. Five Seasons explores this intricate relationship through the eyes of the Numurindi people of South East Arnhemland in the Northern Territory’s Gulf of Carpentaria.

In this region of Australia western society operates on two distinct seasons, the wet and the dry. The Numurindi people operate on a calendar that has five seasons. The seasons dictate what their country will provide for them, for example when the Pandanus nuts turn red and fall from the trees it is the time sea turtles are laying their eggs. Turtle eggs are a much favoured food source for the people.

Moses Numamurdirdi is a senior custodian for the region. He takes the viewer through the 12 months of the five seasons, from the vast dried up flood plains where salt-water crocodiles perish due to lack of water through to the spectacular thunderstorms, which isolate the communities due to the roads being cut off from the rising rivers.

Moses provides a unique insight into a way of life that is rarely accessible to western society. He is a provider of not only food for his community but also strong cultural leadership. He combines his knowledge of the land and culture with the benefits of the modern world such as the 4wd drive and outboard motors for hunting turtle and Dugong.

While enjoying the benefits of the modern world the Numurindi people are still guided by the seasons and the stories of the dreamtime. This spiritual connection resonates throughout the documentary giving the audience an evocative entrée to the world’s oldest living culture.

Screenings
2005 Sydney Film Festival
2005 Stringworld Homelands Movies Film Festival, Darwin
2005 Garma Festival, Gulkula NT
2005 Sydney Indigenous Arts Festival
2005 Green Wave 21st Century Euroekofest Bulgaria
2006 All Roads Film Festival, USA

Credits

Special thanks:
Community of Numbulwar
Numamudirdi Family
Nundhirribala Family
Rami Family
Nunggayinbala Family
Director                Steven McGregor
Producers                 Priscilla Collins, Citt Williams
Writers                Steven McGregor, Danielle MacLean
Director of Photography        Warwick Thornton, Allan Collins ACS
Editor                 James Bradley
Composer                George Papanicolaou
Sound Recordist            Chris West
Narrator                Tom E Lewis
Sound Post Production        Michael Gissing, Digital City Studios
Production Manager        Lisa Stefanoff, Rachel Clements
Additional Camera            Colin Richards
Additional Sound & Unit ManagerNeville Khan
Assistant Editor            Dena Curtis
Musicians                George Papanicolaou – Keyboards & Percussion
Kit Webster – Didgeridoo
Sound Engineering            Mark Lyall
Translations            Langayina Rami, Virginia Rami
Titles & Graphics Design    Ben Foley
Colour Grade and Subtitles    Cutting Edge
Archival Footage    Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies
Tom Eccles and Caroline Carmody
Completion Guarantor        FACB, Corrie Soeterboek
Legals                Karen Goodwin, Marshalls & Dent Lawyers
Thanks to:    Maureen, Ellen, Amy,Beck Cole, Vance Glynn, TEABBA, Numbulwar School Literacy centre, Numbulwar Health Clinic, Bernie McBain, Steven Gaskett, Vance Chow, Amy Frasca, Sarah Robins, Lisa Scott

Produced in association with the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Commissioning Editor
Michael Allder

Produced in association with
SBS Independent
Commissioning Editor
Ned Lander

Principal Investor
Australian Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited
Susan MacKinnon