简介：TheNationalBlackTheatremovementinRedfern,SydneyformedataverycrucialtimeinAustralianpoliticalhistory,culminatingwiththeestablishmentofapoliticalmovementandthesettingupofanumberofsignificantAboriginalorganisations.TheNationalBlackTheatrehasleftalastinglegacyonnationalpolitics,socialwelfareandtheAustralianartsscene. —————————————————————————————————— "ThisisanextraordinaryfilmthatshinesalightonotherwiseunknownaspectsofAustralianhistory.Assuchitshouldbeanimportantinclusionintheeducationcurriculumin allschoolsanduniversitiesthroughoutAustralia." -DrGaryFoley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Atributetothedeadlytrailblazerswhofoughtforlandrightsandsocialjusticeandwhomadealastingimpactonnationalpolitics,socialwelfareandtheAustralianartsscene. Inthelate1960sandearly1970s,theSydneysuburbofRedfernbecamehometoover20,000Aboriginalpeople.WiththegradualrevokingofthereservesysteminNewSouthWales,Aboriginalpeopledriftedtothecitylookingforfriends,familyandwork.Redfern,thenarundownslumwhereonlythepoorestpeoplelived,wasthecheapestandthereforemostaffordableplaceforthesedisplacedcountrypeopletofindrefuge.Itwassoonovercrowded:poverty,illiteracyandalcoholprovokedantisocialbehaviourandconflictarosebetweenthenewinhabitantsandthepolice. In1967theoverwhelming"yes"voteintheReferendumgaveAboriginalpeoplehopethattheirplightwouldberecognisedandhelpprovided.Afewbravepioneers,likeFaithBandlerandKathWalker(OodgerooNoonucle)workedhardtoraiseawarenessofthecause.However,inrealitylittlechanged. Then,in1971,somethinghappenedwhichmarkedthebeginningofthefightforequalrightsandequalopportunitiesforAustralia'sfirstpeople.Asmallgroupofuntrained,butpassionateandtalentedactivistscametogetherandformedTheNationalBlackTheatrewhichbecameafocalpointforactivismuntilitclosedin1977. TheRedfernStorydocumentstheeffortsmadethroughactivismandtheatretobringthecauseofindigenouspeopletopublicnotice,asafirststeptowardsgaininglandrightsandbettertreatment.Withtheatre,danceandsongaspowerfulpoliticaltools,Redfernbecameathrivingandvibrantmeltingpotofpolitics,artandcreativity. Thefilmmaker,DarleneJohnsonlivedinRedfernasasmallchildinthe1970s.Hermotherwaspartoftheartsandactivistscene,andDarleneoftensatatthetablewhilemusicwasplayedanddiscussionstookplaceaboutIndigenouspolitics.TheRedfernStoryishertributetothattime. OtherfilmsbyDarleneJohnsonintheRonincollectionareStolenGenerations,CrocodileDreaming,RiverofnoReturn,andGulpilil–OneRedBlood. ______________________________________________________________ "AfascinatingcollectionofstoriestoldwithpassionandhumouraboutapoliticallyexplosiveandculturallyimportantchapterofAustralianhistory"-SydneyMorningHerald.…