Walkabout to Hollywood: Fire

In this short excerpt David Gulpilil is seen in the outback catching birds and then cooking them over an open fire, in the same way that his ancestors have always done. The process of lighting the fire using just sticks and dried grass and kindling is mesmerising to watch. 

This clip is from the film Walkabout to Hollywood, which examines how Aboriginal people have been portrayed in film and how the film industry has treated Aboriginal people. It is also actor David Gulpilil's life story.

After acting in Walkabout (1970), it follows his life and how he dealt with his sudden fame in the United States and returning home to a more traditional way of life.

To learn more about David Gulpilil visit his curated collection and portrait.

Notes by Mel Bondfield