Ten Canoes poster & wallpaper

Crusoe Kurddal, David Gulpilil, Frances Djulibing

A fusion of Yolngu and Western mythologies, set in Arnhem Land 120 years ago, the story tells a Yolngu tale before the first white contact.

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75% liked it

5,775 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

57 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Rolf de Heer, Peter Djigirr

Release Date: June 1, 2007

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DVD Release Date: September 25, 2007

Stats: 473 reviews

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Jamie Gulpilil in Ten Canoes Ten Canoes TEN CANOES 2006 Ten Canoes Ten Canoes David Gulpilil in TEN CANOES 2006 Philip Gudthaykudthay in TEN CANOES 2006 Ten Canoes TEN CANOES Ten Canoes TEN CANOES 2006 TEN CANOES 2006 Ten Canoes TEN CANOES 2006 Jamie Gulpili as Dayindi in TEN CANOES 2006. TEN CANOES 2006 Frances Djulibing as Nowalingu in TEN CANOES 2006 Richard Birrinbirrin as Birrinbirrin in TEN CANOES 2006.
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Flixster Reviews (473)

  • Jungian
    April 5, 2008
    Jungian
    An interesting narrative structure and the subject of the aboriginal lifestyle make this a must for anyone looking for something unique.
  • EarthlyAlien
    October 1, 2007
    EarthlyAlien
    Although strange and never-before-seen are the most obvious words to describe Ten Canoes, after watching the film you get this slight feeling that you just witnessed something great. Well, I did anyway.

    ...( read more)2.photobucket.com/albums/w25/EarthlyAlien/TenCanoes.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

    Winner of the Special Jury Prize at last year's Cannes, the film - the first entirely in Australian Aboriginal languages - is a sort of part adventure, part comedy, and part anthropological lesson. A highly unusual, metaphoric and unprecedent cinematic delight by dutch-born australian Rolf de Heer.

    Narrated in English - unlike all the dialogues, entirely done in Yolngu - by David Gulpilil (one of Australia's most renowned actors, who you might know as the Aborigine boy from Nicolas Roeg's Walkabout) who starts by warning us that what we're about to see is "a story like you never seen before", the story of his people and his land.

    The set is the Arafura Swamp of Northern Australia, in the town of Ramingining in the hoary and secretive forests of Arnhamland, a thousand years ago, long before the arrival of Europeans. We come to know Minygululu and Dayindi, two brothers who, along with eight other canoeists, are about to go on a seasonal goose-egg hunt. When Minygululu, the older brother and group leader, finds out that the young Dayindi has a crush on the youngest and prettiest of his three wifes he, hopping to avoid a possible conflict, chooses to tell his brother a story of an earlier generation of brothers who faced a similar problem. The story, told throughout the entire film, turns out to be a tale of honor and bravery that also, being everything but short, turns out to teach Dayindi another virtue: patience.

    With a Nonlinear Timeline, the film unfolds in two different time frames - one a thousand years ago, while Minygululu tells Dayindi the story - and the other further back still, where the story itself occurs. Even though it may seem confusing at times, especially because the same actor (Jamie Gulpilil; David Gulpilil's son in real life) appears in both segments, playing both yougmen, Dayindi and Yeeralparil, you always know where you are because the first story is shot in black and white, the far older one in vibrant color.

    Besides Rolf de Heer, writer and director, and his co-director Peter Djigirr, who obviously deserve all the credit, Ian Jones is also one of of most important assets. His cinematography is simply exquisit, with extremely vibrant colors and photographic black and whites, that make Ten Canoes what it is, a beautifully visual and poetic film. A look at ourselves as human beings and a reflection on what it means to be 'human'.
  • RossCollinsUK
    September 3, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    Simple aboriginal tales of their ancestors' tribes, with typical humour.
  • jimbotender
    November 17, 2008
    jimbotender
    Philosophy of the wise and of the Methuselah.Now really,the ancient language fashion is withering,yes?Unless you bring a true auteur with the name of Rolf de Heer and condemn Mr. Gibson to eternal damnation.Pure and locomotive direction and the b/w interaction with the vibrant an...( read more)tique era is engaging to the folktale narration.
  • KLFilmmaker
    June 28, 2007
    KLFilmmaker
    Gods must be Crazy, but without the bottle.
  • ElCochran90
    September 17, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Absolutely beautiful. A unique Australian film unlike almost anything you've ever seen. The cinematography is a spellbinding feast for the senses, and the plot, although very simple, has layers. Layers of depth that make this gem a spectacle of modern cinematography; the usual to...( read more)uches of comedy suit perfectly; the shots are awesome; and unbelievably, the acting is very fine, along with actors with a deeper portrayed psychology that you could ever imagine. Amazing beauty.

    85/100
  • jdzakarian
    March 2, 2009
    jdzakarian
    reminds how relevant the human condition is, regardless of culture
  • dan884
    January 26, 2009
    dan884
    A recent triumph for Australian screen culture, this story sees a black fellas' story told in their own language and own distinct style. The 'making of' doco really demonstrates the value and complexity of this production.
  • Keaven
    November 15, 2008
    Keaven
    I didn't enjoy this movie much.

    Thanks for the Recommendation Amanda.
  • zorgsembetty
    September 29, 2008
    zorgsembetty
    Mais uma bizarrice do diretor Rolf de Heer. Roteiro as vezes confuso e fotografia precária. De qualquer forma acho lindo qualquer trabalho desse diretor.

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Critic Reviews

July 26, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's worth putting up with the meandering story to see the aboriginal world shown from a fresh perspective. full review

June 1, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A rollicking good story set a millennium ago among Australian aborigines, Ten Canoes is one of those cultural-building exercises that genuinely entertains. full review

View more Ten Canoes reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • nazmondo
    September 20, 2007
    nazmondo
    insightful and surprisingly funny in places
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Ten Canoes Trivia

  • Who was the director of the superb "Ten Canoes" which was the first full-length feature film that an Indigenous Australian language is predominantly spoken?  Answer »
  • The 2006 Australian produced film, "Ten Canoes" is about an annual rowing race in Sydney between competing private schools. True or False?  Answer »
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