WHEN THE NATIVES GET RESTLESS

A film about racism and inequality in a small country town. It is about life, family and the disadvantage of not having opportunities because of the colour of your skin.

On the Gordon Estate in Dubbo, the entire community has been given an eviction notice. Within three years, all of their homes will be demolished. This confronting documentary explores the experience of being black in a predominantly white town.

After a riot on New Year's Eve, 2006, the media dubbed the Gordon Estate the "Redfern of the Bush" and the housing department announced the plans for demolition.

The Gordon residents speak frankly about what they believe is a redneck racist town, where inequality and hopelessness are compounded by drugs, alcohol and dependence on welfare payments. The white community seems to have minimal comprehension of the problems they face. Is demolition and removal the only solution? As one resident says: "When will these whitefellas get it, we not like them, we will never be like them, we live differently ..."

"An amazing, jaw-dropping excursion into territory which may not be pretty, but is dreadfully real." - Urban Cinefile.

• OFFICIAL SELECTION! 2009 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival [WAFF], Canada

Director - Adrian Wills
Producer - Melissa Johnston
Co-Director - Albert Hartnett
Director of Photography - Hugh Miller
Sound Recordist - Dan Miau
Editors - Andrea Lang and Suresh Ayyar ASE
Co-Writers - Adrian Wills and Albert Hartnett
Composer - Christopher O'Young
Supervising Producer - Catherine Marciniak
Produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Authority
Developed and produced in association with the Indigenous Branch of the Australian Film Commission
Produced in association with the New South Wales Film and Television office and its Regional Filming Fund
Principle investor - Film Finance Corporation of Australia

(c) 2007, Essential Viewing, Melissa Johnston, Adrian Wills and Albert Hartnett

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• preview Download WHEN THE NATIVES GET RESTLESS press kit (PDF 144.4 kb)