Ten Canoes
2006 · Movie · 90 min · ★ 6.7 · 90% critics
During a hunting trip in Australia’s Northern Territory, a young man struggles with desire and jealousy as elders guide him through customary law. A wry narrator unfolds a layered tale-within-a-tale, using an ancestral cautionary story to show how impatience and temptation can invite trouble into a community.
Also known as 10 Canoes
Where to watch
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2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2006
- Release date
- 2006-06-29
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.7/10 (75 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a distinctive, narrated folk-tale experience with humor and moral lessons, and you don’t mind a slow unwind; Not for you if you want fast pacing or a typical thriller like The Game.
Pros: inventive layered storytelling; rich cultural glimpse; earthy humor | Cons: very slow pace; heavy narration; patience required
Themes
- australia
- swamp
- canoe
- tribe
- hunting
- death
- storytelling
- native peoples
- hunt
- australian aboriginal
Awards & recognition
- AACTA Award — Best Editing · 2006
- AACTA Award — Best Sound · 2006
- AACTA Award — Best Film · 2006
- AACTA Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2006
- AACTA Award — Best Direction · 2006
Show all 14 awards →
- AACTA Award — Best Cinematography · 2006
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2007 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Editing · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Direction · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Cinematography · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Production Design · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Film · 2006 · nominated
- AACTA Award — Best Sound · 2006 · nominated
Cast & crew
- CK
Crusoe Kurddal
as Ridjimiraril
- JG
Jamie Gulpilil
as Dayindi / Yeeralparil
Richard Birrinbirrin
as Birrinbirrin
David Gulpilil
as The Storyteller
- PM
Peter Minygululu
as Minygululu
- FD
Frances Djulibing
as Nowalingu
- SD
Sonia Djarrabalminym
as Banalandju
- CB
Cassandra Malangarri Baker
as Munandjarra
- PG
Philip Gudthaykudthay
as The Sorcerer
- PD
Peter Djigirr
as Canoeist/The Victim/Warrior
Directed by Peter Djigirr, Rolf de Heer