Redfern takes centre stage

Redfern’s rocky reputation has lent itself to highly anticipated feature film, Around the Block.

As the name suggests, the film is set on The Block – the notorious strip in Redfern boxed off by
Eveleigh, Caroline, Hugo and Hudson St.With The Block’s deep Indigenous roots, the story depicts the complicated friendship between drama teacher Dino Chalmers, played by Christina Ricci, and troubled Aboriginal boy Liam, played by Hunter Page-Lochard.

Writer and Director, Sarah Spillane runs a theme of existentialism through the script. She said: “The film is about hope and freedom. There is tragedy in it, with parallels to Hamlet, but the greatest is Hunter’s parallel with Ricci and how they unite in their quest for personal freedom.”

Having lived in Redfern on and off for ten years, Ms Spillane used personal experience to forge the narrative. “I wrote the script eight years ago, when I lived 100 meters from The Block and
taught at Eora Arts College. I was inspired by real events and characters I came across,” she said. “I chose Redfern as the location, as I saw a big cross- section of characters and the Aboriginal people as, almost, underdogs to freedom.”

After a chequered past, The Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC), who secured ownership of The Block in 1972, have levelled the site to make way for the Pemulwuy Project, designed to rejuvenate the area. CEO of AHC, Michael Mundine said: “If you go back even just five years, Redfern was a vicious cycle of drugs, crime and alcohol. It was almost as if people were coming here to die.

“We are now paving the way for the new Aboriginal generation to avoid this. We still want them to be a strong part of Redfern, but in a good manner.”

For Hunter Page-Lochard, whose cousin lived on The Block, the area still holds a certain “vibe.” He said: “Redfern has come a long way in terms of development. It is rising out of the ashes. But, it still has that vibe and history. You still get a strong sense of Aboriginal community and people respect one another because of their roots.”

These sentiments were echoed by Mr Mundine. “The Block will always be The Block. It is like a Sydney landmark now,” he said.

“Who would have thought we would be making movies anddocumentaries about it? It is a credit to the Aboriginal people and shows a light at the end of the tunnel. We have a bright future.”