Jessie Bartlett is about to take you on an incredible journey back to her Pintubi grandmothers’ homelands where she will learn about the lore of love: traditional way.

This half hour documentary explores the relationship between Jessie, a shy 18 year old girl and her outgoing and mischievous grandmothers: Mijili, Nancy and Kumanjayi.  This is a film about sexuality, relationships and culture set in an extremely isolated location, Lake Mackay.

25 minute documentary
Directed by Beck Cole

Lake Mackay is a huge salt lake located on the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Throughout the film the audience learns about the incredible lives led by the three old women who did not make contact with white civilisation until the 1960’s. Two of the women were married to Jessie’s grandfather at the same time; they were co-wives.

The women speak openly about their own experiences of love with a great amount of humour and honesty. A central theme in the film is jealousy, and much of the lessons and discussion focus on ways in which to deal with this intense emotion. The women also tell Jessie about the ‘coming of age’ ceremonies which indicated to the community that they were ready to be taken as wives.

The film delves into many interesting details about traditional love, marriage and relationships. It offers unique insight into the Pintupi lore systems as deciphered by Jessie as she begins to understand where she fits in.

Screenings
2005 Message Sticks Festival, Sydney
2005 Short Blak Festival, Sydney
2005 International Womenís Film Festival Israel
2005 FIFO Tahiti
2006 FIPA, Biarritz, France
2006 All Roads Film Festival, USA

Credits

Writer/Director                Beck Cole
Executive Producers/Producers        Jacqui North, Citt Williams
Cinematographer             Warwick Thornton
Editor                     Dena Curtis
Music by                Cliff Bradley
Associate Producer            Peter Bartlett
Production Manager            Rachel Clements
Sound Design                Liam Egan
Sound Mixer                Phil Judd PhilmSound

In loving memory of Kumanjayi Napanangka Daniels

Featuring:
Jessie Bartlett Nungarrayi, Mitjili Gibson Napanangka,
Nancy Gibson Napanangka, Lizzie Spencer Nungarrayi,
Robbie Charles, Josie Callipari

Associate Producer
Peter Bartlett

Music
Cliff Bradley

Sound Recordists
Corey Noll
Vance Glynn
David Tranter

Editing Mentor
James Bradley

Editor’s Assistant
Keith Skinner

Unit Manager
Peter Yates

Translations
Earth Bound Consultants
Cindy and Caroline Gibson Nagamarra

Online Editor
David Intercolour

Colourist
Warren Lynch, Intercolour

Archival Video and Photographs
Photographs by D F Thomson. Courtesy of Mrs D M Thomson
Francis Kelly Jupurrula
Paul Sweeney and John Corker
Billie Bartlett

Legals
Marshalls & Dent

Insurances
Elders Insurance Brokers, Holland Insurance Brokers

CAAMA Accounts
Claudia Tee, Naree Tilmouth, Janice Hill

CAAMA CEO
Priscilla Collins

Special Thanks to:

Freda Glynn, Luka Glynn-Cole, Warwick Thornton

Nicole Timbery, Lisa Scott

Susan MacKinnon
Investment Manager FFC

Billie Bartlett, Paddy Lewis Janpanangka

The Gibson & Daniels families

Clint Mitchell, David Limpus, PhilmSound

Series Producer
Charlotte Seymour
Produced in association with the Indigenous Unit of the Australian Film Commission

Erica Glynn
Project Manager, AFC Indigenous Unit

Developed and produced by CAAMA Productions, Produced in association with the Indigenous Unit of the Australian Film Commission, SBS Independent, Principal Investor Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited, Produced with Finance and Assistance from The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services

© 2005 CAAMA Productions, and Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited