Gurrumul 2017

Directed by Paul Damien Williams

A soaring, evocative audio-visual journey into the life, culture and landscapes of one of Australia's most beloved singers – the late Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

Australia In English and Yolngu Matha with English subtitles
100 minutes CinemaScope/DCP
E

Rent

Director/Screenplay

Producer

Shannon Swan

Photography

Dan Maxwell
,
Katie Milwright
,
Matt Toll
,
Gavin Head

Editors

Shannon Swan
,
Ken Sallows

Music

Michael Hohnen
,
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
,
Erkki Veltheim

Festivals

Melbourne 2017; Berlin 2018

“A profound and transporting songline… Paul Damien Williams’ poignant film captures the singular qualities – both as an artist and a man – of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the widely celebrated aboriginal Australian musician known for soulful tenor vocals that blended his traditional cultural heritage and Yolngu language with Western folk, gospel and classical elements. Approaching its reclusive subject with unerring respect, the elegantly composed doc mirrors the gentle power and ethereal hush of Gurrumul’s singing.” — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“Formerly a member of Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who was blind from birth and passed away last year at age 46, released his first solo album in 2008. He sang mostly in the Indigenous languages of the Gumatj, Galpu and Djambarrpuyngu people, and attracted immense global acclaim, including being hailed by Rolling Stone as ‘Australia’s most important voice’…

The ultra-reticent singer did not enjoy talking to the media, to put it lightly… In one sense the documentary is limited by Gurrumul’s elusive and mysterious personality… But in another, more exciting and liberating sense, it is freed from clichés we often see in portraits of musicians and shoots off in different directions – among them a focus on family, community and land…

For Gurrumul fans, the film is obviously a must-see. For those unfamiliar, or vaguely familiar with his work, it’s an even greater treat: they will be entertained, enthralled, perhaps in some small way changed.” — Luke Buckmaster, The Guardian