Skip to main content

Berlin International Film Festival · 2013

Berlin International Film Festival 2013

Native

Films made by indigenous peoples from around the world.

Programme

24 films · 6 reviews

Jump to a film

Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner

Review preview for Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner

Zacharias Kunuk's achievement with his mainly untrained actors is astonishing. Even the sexual chemistry works.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 4.5 out of 5
First movie ever made in Inuit, it tells a tale of love, tradition and revenge.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2000; Director: Zacharias Kunuk; Writer: Paul Apak Angilirq; Stars: Natar Ungalaaq, Sylvia Ivalu, Peter Henry Arnatsiaq, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Madeline Ivalu, Pakkak Innuksuk)

Full review

The Ballad Of Crowfoot

The life story of the legendary chief and his people.

(Country: Canada; Year: 1968; Director: Willie Dunn)

Bastion Point Day 507

A documentary about the Maori land rights protests of 1978.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 1980; Director: Merata Mita, Leon Narbey, Gerd Pohlmann)

Boy

Review preview for Boy

This is an upbeat, often hilarious, but never mawkish, celebration of love.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
A Boy and his brother find their fantasy version of their dad is somewhat different to the real deal.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2010; Director: Taika Waititi; Writer: Taika Waititi; Stars: Taika Waititi, James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone) , Official site

Full review

Beneath Clouds

Two misfits with difficult relationships to race travel together across the outback.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2002; Director: Ivan Sen; Stars: Danielle Hall, Damian Pitt)

Circle Of The Sun

The firt ever footage of the sun dance performed by the Kainai tribe.

(Country: Canada; Year: 1960; Director: Colin Low; Stars: Pete Standing Alone)

Ebony Society

Two young men on a Christmas burglary spree make an unexpected discovery.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2011; Director: Tammy Davis; Stars: James Ru, Darcy Ray Flavell)

The Exiles

Kent Mackenzie's riveting, innovative dramadoc, unseen since 1961, about displaced urban Native Americans leading despondent lives in LA's Bunker Hill district.

(Country: USA; Year: 1961; Director: Kent MacKenzie; Writer: Kent MacKenzie; Stars: Mary Donahue, Homer Nish, Clydean Parker, Tom Reynolds, Rico Rodriguez, Clifford Ray Sam, Eddie Sunrise, Yvonne Williams)

Green Bush

Homage to Aboriginal DJs.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2005; Director: Warwick Thornton; Writer: Warwick Thornton; Stars: Ted Egan, Audrey Martin, David Page, Leo Jampinjinpa Wayne)

A Mother's Dream (Le Rêve D'Une Mère)

A mother is only allowed to see her children for a few hours at a time.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2007; Director: Cherilyn Papatie)

Nana

An old woman cooks, paints, hunts and deals out justice.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Warwick Thornton; Stars: Kiara Gibson, Mitjili Gibson)

Ngangkari

A documentary exploring how Aboriginal healers go about their work and transmit their knowledge to future generations.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2001; Director: Erica Glynn; Stars: Andy Tjiliri, Rupert Peters, Jimmy Baker)

Ngati

A young doctor hoping to educate Maori people discovers he has a lot to learn from them himself.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 1987; Director: Barry Barclay; Stars: Ross Girven, Wi Kuki Kaa, Judy McIntosh, Michael Tibble)

On The Ice

Review preview for On The Ice

We lurch between environments where there is no freedom at all and where one might get away with anything, and the effect is morally dizzying.

Jennie Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
After a fight in which their friend is killed, two Alaskan teenagers try to cover up what happened and keep their mutual secret.

(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean; Writer: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean; Stars: Josiah Patkotak, Frank Qutuq Irelan, Teddy Kyle Smith, Adamina Kerr, Sierra Jade Sampson) , Official site

Full review

The Orator (O le tulafale)

Review preview for The Orator

Like Saili himself, this proves to be a thoughtful little gem.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A Samoan farmer defends his land and family while coming to terms with himself.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2011; Director: Tusi Tamasese; Writer: Tusi Tamasese; Stars: Fa'afiaula Sagote, Tausili Pushparaj, Salamasina Mataia, Ioata Tanielu) , Official site

Full review

Payback

Emerging from prison after a 20 year sentence, a man must face payback under the traditional justice system of his people.

(Country: Australia; Year: 1996; Director: Warwick Thornton; Stars: George Djilayanga, Charlie Matjiwi, Peter Datjing)

Richard Cardinal: Cry From A Diary Of A Métis Child

A documentary exposing the truth about Canada's stolen generation through a focus on the suicide of one abused and neglected boy.

(Country: Canada; Year: 1986; Director: Alanis Obomsawin)

Saving Grace, Te Whakarauora Tangata

Maori men face up to their acts of violence and talk about their hopes for a brighter future.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2011; Director: Merata Mita)

Skins

A cop seeks revenge in a desperate attempt to improve life on the reservation.

(Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Chris Eyre; Stars: Eric Schweig, Graham Greene, Gary Farmer)

Samson And Delilah

Review preview for Samson And Delilah

The movie works by getting under your skin in ways that you only realise when the situation turns sour.

James Benefield · 5 out of 5
Winner of the Camera d'Or at Cannes, sees an Aboriginal couple drawn together after tragedy strikes.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2009; Director: Warwick Thornton; Writer: Warwick Thornton; Stars: Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson, Scott Thornton) , Official site

Full review

Trudell

Exploration of the power and fragility of indigenous icon, John Trudell.

(Country: US; Year: 2005; Director: Heather Rae; Writer: Russell Friedenberg; Stars: Robert Redford, Kris Kristofferson, Sam Shepard, Amy Ray, Val Kilmer, Jackson Browne, Darelle 'Dino' Butler, Wilma Mankiller, Bonnie Raitt, John Trudell,)

See: Sundance Film Festival - Day 6

Ten Canoes (10 Canoes)

Review preview for Ten Canoes

This is storytelling in its truest sense and the cast rise to the occasion.

Jeff Robson · 4 out of 5
An Aboriginal hunting party passes the time by retelling an old fable that has a particular resonance for the youngest member.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2006; Director: Rolf De Heer and Peter Djigirr; Writer: Rolf De Heer; Stars: David Gulpilil (narrator), Jamie Gulpilil, Crusoe Kurrdal, Richard Birrinbirrin, Peter Minygululu, Frances Djulibing)

Full review

Turangawaewae - A Place to Stand

A man troubled by his memories seeks a way back to his roots.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2007; Director: Peter Burger; Stars: Wi Kuki Kaa, Nancy Brunning)

Two Cars, One Night

Two young people waiting for their parents start an argument and find romance.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2004; Director: Taika Waititi; Stars: Rangi Ngamoki, Hutini Waikato, Te Ahiwaru Ngamoki-Richards)