11th Brisbane International Film Festival

Black Chicks Talking (Black Chicks Talking)




Date	Venue	Time

18/7/2002	Regent 1	4:45pm

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Director: LEAH PURCELL
Category: Asia Pacific , Australian cinema
Length: 52 mins
Production: Bungabura Productions
Country: AUSTRALIA
Language: English
Source: Bungabura Productions

Cast:
Leah Purcell, Deborah Mailman, Rosanna Angus, Kathryn Hay, Tammy Williams, Cilla malone

This documentary presents a lively, challenging glimpse into the lives of five indigenous women, three of whom have strong links to Queensland. The film takes us on a very special journey with the recounting of sad tales amid joyous, triumphant ones.

Leah Purcell, performer, writer, and director, gives space and voice to Deborah Mailman, popular award-winning actor, born and bred in Mt Isa; Tammy Williams from Gympie, a lawyer who is very involved in international human rights; Cilla Malone, mother of six, who lives in Cherbourg; Rosanna Angus, cultural tour guide and community police warden in a traditional Western Australia community; and Kathryn Hay from Launceston, a former Miss Australia. The film intercuts scenes of the women enjoying themselves at a special dinner with Leah, with scenes of each woman's story developed more fully in her particular, individual context.

All these women have had to negotiate acceptance issues around being Aboriginal. As Deborah states, she grew up under a cloud she didn't understand her parents' shame, induced by discriminatory, white-protectionist policies. She now has come to see herself proudly as an Aboriginal first, an actor second. After discovering her indigenous background only when she was about sixteen years old, Kathryn, on the other hand, has had quite a few adjustments to make in terms of claiming her Aboriginality.

The diverse life experiences of these feisty women are deftly explored here. The film gives us a strong message regarding a particular choice: the choice to fight racism with fists or with talent. In this film, talent wins hands down.

ABOUT LEAH PURCELL

Leah Purcell is an award-winning singer, writer, actor, and director, and one of Australia's most recognised indigenous performers. Her hugely successful play and book, Box the Pony, won four major Australian literary awards. She starred in last year's Lantana, and Black Chicks Talking, her directorial debut, recently screened at the Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan.