Shop for a film
OONDOORRD: Married Turtle [from the CAAMA Collection]
Year: 2009
Classification: Exempt - Ronin Recommends: PG
Runtime: 22 min
Produced In: Australia
Directed By: Mitch Torres
Produced By: Eileen Torres
Language: Bardi and English language [English subtitles]
WARNING: This film contains graphic scenes of killing and preparing turtles for cooking that may distress some viewers.
The hunt for the special Oondoorrd or female turtle in the mating season, in the ocean off the West Kimberley region of Western Australia.
For the Bardi people of the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome in the West Kimberley, it is Oondoorrd time, a time of celebration and friendly competition as young men try to spear their first 'married turtle' – a rite of passage into being a good hunter of turtles.
Irene Davey, an Elder from the West Kimberley region, talks about her people's traditional association with the sea: "we are saltwater people ... the ocean is our shop". From the ocean they catch fish, shellfish and dugong but the special treat of all is the Oondoorrd, the female turtle in the mating season, with eggs inside her.
Irene's son, Gordon Davey, and younger family members go hunting for turtle in a dinghy with an outboard motor, and, with much excitement, catch an ordinary turtle by hand before pursuing and spearing the special Oondoorrd. The trip is partly to catch the turtle for food, but also to teach the younger generation how to hunt in the ocean.
Finally, the catch is cooked and shared between community members, to Irene's satisfaction.
Director - MITCH TORRES
Producer - EILEEN TORRES
Production manager - ALI TORRES
Photography & sound recording - CORNEL OZIES and CLINTON FERSTL
Editor - CLINTON FERSTL
Composer - PETRIS TORRES
Production manager - MELANIE GUINEY
Executive producers - ROBYN NARDOO and RAY LILLIS
A CAAMA Production for Imparja TV, in the Nganampa Anwernekenhe series.
Follow this link to view a trailer that includes this title and other CAAMA titles: www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQTe35Fm6o