We acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and give respect to their Elders, past and present.

Read our Statement of Reflection

Your Cart

Your cart is empty right now...

Discover what's on
Your Stuff
Lists
No lists found
Create list
List name
0 Saved items
Updated: a few seconds ago
Getting Started
Get started with Your Stuff

A free Your Stuff account allows you to save, list and share your favourite collection items and articles. This account will give you access to Your Stuff, NFSA Player and Pro. You will need to create an additional account for Canberra event tickets.

Confirm
Skip to main content
National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaNational Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive

Crossing Tracks - Wind: A sudden gust of wind

1999

Crossing Tracks - Wind: A sudden gust of wind

1999

  • NFSA IDM4C7N1K3
  • TypeFilm
  • MediumMoving Image
  • FormShort
  • GenresIndigenous themes or stories, Indigenous as subject
  • Year1999
  • WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

The Tracker (Bradley Byquar) leaves the hut and ventures into the bushland. He climbs a rock face, and we see that it is an ancient art gallery, depicting the ochre-crusted handprints of many people. The Tracker places his hand against one of the ochre prints. The old Aboriginal man (Steve Dodd) sits on the cliff face, a tear rolls down his cheek. Tracker, steadying his hand against the rock face is disturbed by a sudden gust of wind.

Summary by Romaine Moreton

  • WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

The Tracker (Bradley Byquar) leaves the hut and ventures into the bushland. He climbs a rock face, and we see that it is an ancient art gallery, depicting the ochre-crusted handprints of many people. The Tracker places his hand against one of the ochre prints. The old Aboriginal man (Steve Dodd) sits on the cliff face, a tear rolls down his cheek. Tracker, steadying his hand against the rock face is disturbed by a sudden gust of wind.

Summary by Romaine Moreton

Decades
Tags
  • Production company
    Mayfan
    Producer
    Graeme Isaac
    Director
    Ivan Sen
    Writer
    Ivan Sen
    Cast
    Bradley Byquar, Ralph Cotterill, Steve Dodd
    Acknowledgements
    Produced with the assistance of the Indigenous Branch of the Australian Film Commission
  • A scene that deals with the conflict of the Indigenous tracker, who in working for the colonial forces, is pitted against his culture and traditions. The old Aboriginal man who sheds a tear represents a poignant moment in a film where the key emotional moments occur quietly. In that moment we witness the realisation by the older Indigenous man that he is at war with the Tracker, the only other Indigenous character in the film.

    Wind Synopsis

    A short drama about the relationship between a black tracker and his 'boss’. They are tracking an Aboriginal man accused of murder.

    Wind Curator's Notes

    The story of a black tracker (Bradley Byquar) – an Indigenous man employed by white society to hunt and track fellow Indigenous people – who in the end is a man trapped between two cultures, his loyalties equally divided. Director Ivan Sen’s other films include Tears, Dust, Yellow Fella and Beneath Clouds for which he won the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for both Best Director and Best Cinematography.

    Other films in the AFC Indigenous Branch drama initiative Crossing Tracks(1999) are Harry’s War and Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.

    Notes by Romaine Moreton

Decades
Tags
Industry professional? Go Pro

Need to license this item? A/V professionals and researchers can shortlist licensing enquiries via our NFSA Pro catalogue search and membership.

Get started with PRO

Collections to explore

  • 1990s

  • Feature film

  • 1930s

  • Start your own collection

    A free Your Stuff account allows you to save, organise and share your favourite videos, audio and stories.

More in Stories+

Personalized your experience

Save, create and share

With NFSA Your Stuff