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Ten Canoes

2006 · Movie · 90 min

7.1(75)unSUB Rating

AdventureComedyDrama

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

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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
TMDB rating (input)
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 AwardBest Editing · 2006
  • AACTA AwardBest Sound · 2006
  • AACTA AwardBest Film · 2006
  • AACTA AwardBest Original Screenplay · 2006
  • AACTA AwardBest Direction · 2006
Show all 14 awards →
  • AACTA AwardBest Cinematography · 2006
  • International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2007 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Editing · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Original Screenplay · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Direction · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Cinematography · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Production Design · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Film · 2006 · nominated
  • AACTA AwardBest Sound · 2006 · nominated

Cast & crew

  • CK

    Crusoe Kurddal

    as Ridjimiraril

  • JG

    Jamie Gulpilil

    as Dayindi / Yeeralparil

  • Richard Birrinbirrin

    Richard Birrinbirrin

    as Birrinbirrin

  • David Gulpilil

    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