Kanyini (film)

Kanyini
Directed byMelanie Hogan
Written byMartin Lee
Bob Randall
Produced byLynda House
Melanie Hogan
Bob Randall
StarringBob Randall
Narrated byBob Randall
CinematographyDenson Baker
Martin Lee
Music byDavid Page
Sam Petty
Manta
Distributed byHopscotch Films
Release date
  • 15 November 2006 (2006-11-15)
Running time
53 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$52,450[1]

Kanyini is a 2006 Australian documentary film, created by Uncle Bob Randall. His dream was to create a film that supported his Kanyini teachings. He approached Melanie Hogan to produce it with him. She directed, filmed and edited the film with the help of Martin Lee whose filming of Uncle Bob Randall's interview made the core thread of the story. The film explores the Kanyini philosophy and the life of Bob Randall, Aboriginal elder, songman and storyteller who lived in Mutitjulu, a town beside the world's greatest monolith, Uluru, in Central Australia. Bob Randall was a 'Tjilpi' (special teaching uncle) of the Yankunytjatjara people and a member of the Stolen Generations.[2]

Overview

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In Kanyini, Bob Randall [cc1933-2015] shares his knowledge of Anangu wisdom, stories of his personal journey and he explores some of the reasons behind the struggles of Aboriginal Australians in modern Australia. Randall explains that when European Australians came to Australia, they broke the four Kanyini Principles that were an integral part of Anangu life. Tjuukurpa was broken when Europeans imposed their law on the Anangu, Ngura was broken when Aboriginal people were forced to move away from their traditional lands, Walytja was broken when the children of Randall's generation were removed from their family as part of the Stolen Generations and Kurunpa was broken when Aboriginal spirituality was replaced with Christianity. In explaining the loss of his Kurunpa, Randall notes the disconnect between the teachings of the Bible and the actions of the white men who professed them.[3][4][5]

Kanyini Principles

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Kanyini is a Pitjantjatjara word meaning interconnectedness; caring, support, nurturing, and responsibility.[5]

The four principles of Kanyini are:

Ngura

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A sense of belonging to home and land.

Walytja

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Family connecting with life.

Kurunpa

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Love, spirit or soul.

Tjuukurpa

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The belief about creation and the right way to live.[5][6]

Awards

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Ceremony Category Result
Discovery Channel Awards Best Documentary Independent Film Won[3]
National Film and Sound Archive Awards Independent Spirit Independent Film Won[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Australian Films at the Box Office" (PDF). Film Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Tjilpi Bob Randall". Kanyini.org. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Movies – Kanyini". CreativeSpirits.info. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Kanyini (2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Kanyini: Connections". Aboriginal Art & Culture: an American eye. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ^ "The Kanyini Principles". Kanyini.org. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
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