Ten Canoes

"Ten canoes, three wives, one hundred and fifty spears...trouble"

2006 1h 30m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 83

AdventureComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A story within a story within a story. In Australia's Northern Territory, an Aboriginal narrator tells a story about his ancestors on a goose hunt. A youngster on the hunt is being tempted to adultery with his elder brother's wife, so an elder tells him a story from the mythical past about how evil can slip in and cause havoc unless prevented by virtue according to customary tribal law.

“Ten canoes, three wives, one hundred and fifty spears...trouble”

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Cast

Crusoe Kurddal
Ridjimiraril
Jamie Gulpilil
Dayindi / Yeeralparil
Richard Birrinbirrin
Birrinbirrin
David Gulpilil
The Storyteller
Peter Minygululu
Minygululu
Frances Djulibing
Nowalingu
Sonia Djarrabalminym
Banalandju
Cassandra Malangarri Baker
Munandjarra

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Peter Djigirr
Writers: Rolf de Heer
Languages: English
Countries: Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 15% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 20 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Peter Djigirr, shot by Ian Jones. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tania Nehme shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Crusoe Kurddal and Jamie Gulpilil and Richard Birrinbirrin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Ten canoes, three wives, one hundred and fifty spears...trouble".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Peter Djigirr directs. Ian Jones behind the camera. Tania Nehme cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Shot for just $2.0M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
3Earned back only 15% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
4Released 20 years ago.
5Directed by Peter Djigirr, shot by Ian Jones. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Tania Nehme shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Crusoe Kurddal and Jamie Gulpilil and Richard Birrinbirrin carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Ten canoes, three wives, one hundred and fifty spears...trouble".
9IMDB entry: tt0466399 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 83 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Classified under 10 themes, including "australia", "swamp", "canoe", "tribe".
12Released under 16 different titles around the world.