Manganinnie


Manganinnie is an AFI Award-winning 1980 film which follows the journey of Manganinnie, a Tasmanian Aboriginal woman who searches for her tribe with the company of a young, lost white girl named Joanna. Based on Beth Roberts' novel of the same name, it was directed by John Honey and was the first feature film to be financed by the short-lived Tasmanian Film Corporation.

Synopsis

During the Black War of 1830 in Van Diemen's Land, Manganinnie journeys across vast mountains and rivers towards the coast in search of her vanished tribe. She finds Joanna, a white girl, along her way. The pair develop a bond for each other even without a common language. Ultimately however, Manganinnie comes to realise that her people and tribal way of life has been destroyed by the British colonists.

Production

Filming started 12 November 1979 and took five weeks.

Locations

Despite the grim subject matter the film recovered its costs and made a small profit.

Awards

Anna Ralph, who played the little white girl Joanna, is now an Associate Professor of infectious diseases working at Royal Darwin Hospital looking after patients, including Aboriginal peoples.