DOCUMENT THIS: EYE + MIND
The documentary is the perfect vehicle to transport the tale of the outsider. Marginalised stories rarely make it mainstream; similarly, documentaries are often sidelined as a cinematic form. There are a number of homebred documentaries featured this year in the Sydney Film Festival line-up with many in the running to win $10,000 as part of the second annual Foxtel Australian Documentary Prize. Eye and Mind are both produced by the Victoria-based Matchbox Pictures (formerly Big and Little Films) and both give screentime to those stories rarely seen or heard. Eye follows Indigenous photographer Bindi Cole as she travels to Bathurst Island in the Tiwi archipelago north of Darwin. There, she snaps transgender ‘Sistergirls’; beautiful and proud to portray their complex identities; male, female, gay, Aboriginal, Australian. Hills hoists stand alongside ceremonial poles, AFL fields and ancient rocks. The film works best when it’s not trying too hard; a charming moment occurs when the ‘Sistergirls’ can’t find an iron on the entire island to use on the outfits. Its main fault is a good one; we want to know more. Mind is the tale of author Tom Cho (recently featured at the Sydney Writer’s Festival for his book Look Who’s Morphing), who from an early age knew he wasn’t going ever be a good Chinese girl. At only 27 minutes, again this leaves you wanting more. But hopefully that hunger will lead to demand for increased servings of quality Aussie docos.
Sat Jun 5, 6.30, Event Cinemas 9, George St, Sydney, $17, sff.org.au
