Locals Maggie Miles and Phoebe Marson Gulpulil are part of a groundbreaking new documentary Journey Home, David Gulpilil which opened in cinemas around Australia this week.
The new doco explains how after his passing, the legendary Yolngu actor is brought back to his country in a continent-traversing commemoration worthy of his transcendent talent.
David Gulpilil was one of Australia’s greatest screen actors, beginning with his first performance in 1971’s Walkabout (CANNES 1971) and continuing over the next five decades through roles in landmark films including Crocodile Dundee (1986), Australia (2008), Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) and The Tracker (2002).
Gulpilil’s final journey is recorded in this moving, thoughtfully observed documentary. After his death in 2021, his body was repatriated from Murray Bridge, South Australia, to be laid to rest in his Homeland on Yolngu country. An extraordinary odyssey across more than 4000 kilometres Victor Harbor by car to Darwin, followed by a chartered plane and helicopter flight to be carried on foot to his birthplace in Arnhem Land’s Arafura Swamp.
In this final chapter of David Gulpilil’s singular story, narrated by Hugh Jackman with Cultural Storytelling by Yolngu hip-hop artist Baker Boy, co-directors Maggie Miles and Trisha Morton-Thomas portray the man through the eyes of his community. Intimately chronicling the epic trip through to its culmination in a Yolngu funeral ceremony, Journey Home, David Gulpilil serves as a fitting tribute to a legend of Australian cinema.
St.Kilda based Writer/Director Maggie Miles pictured with Witiyana Marika actor, cultural leader & founding member of the legendary band Yothu Yindi who features in new doco Journey Home, David Gulpilil.
“It was the most extraordinary adventure of my life, and a great honour to have played a part in the making of this film about one of Australia’s great screen legends.”
“Trish and I worked so closely with the Gulpilil families, to have their trust and support we feel a great responsibility, so to have the film playing in cinemas from 30th October is so exciting for us,” says Maggie.
Phoebe Marson Gulpulil who features in the documentary about her father also lives in St Kilda.
Screening until 5 November at Palace Cinemas, including the Classic Elsternwick.
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