The House-Opening (1980)

When Geraldine Kawanka’s husband died, she and her children left their house at Aurukun on Cape York Peninsula. In earlier times a bark house would have been burnt, but today a ‘house-opening’ ceremony — creatively mingling Aboriginal, Torres Strait and European elements — has evolved to deal with death in the midst of new living patterns. Although sometimes suggesting a party, its underlying purpose is serious. This film records the opening of the house and Geraldine’s feelings about it in her informative and personal commentary.

Released Jan. 1, 1980 42 min None+

Genres: Documentary, Short

Keywords: mdblist.imdb-short, imdb.australian-aborigine, imdb.australian, imdb.death, imdb.ritual, imdb.community

Watch Providers: Kanopy

Country: Australia
Languages: English