Desert Heart

2008

After 40 years in exile, Yulparitja elders take Daniel Walbidi, their most promising young artist, back to the desert heartland they left behind.

In the remote Aboriginal community of Bidyadanga a new art movement has emerged. At its helm is a young Aboriginal man who is well on the way to international fame and possible fortune. Daniel Walbidi paints the desert country that his parents walked out of 40 years ago. Now, with the rock holes, sandhills and salt lakes of their country revitalized through the creation of the paintings, they are determined to go back and show Daniel their desert country for the first time.

Press

"Last dry season, the artists and their helpers headed out, a motley travelling group of 25, accompanied by the great documentary filmmaker of the inland, David Batty, whose account of the journey is the film Desert Heart."

- Nicolas Rothwell, The Australian

Credits

    • Directors

    • David Batty
    • Jeni McMahon
    • Producer

    • Jeni McMahon
    • Camera

    • David Batty
    • Camera Assistant

    • Bergen O'Brien
    • Sound Recordist

    • Bergen O'Brien
    • Editors

    • Charlie Aspinwall
    • Bergen O'Brien
    • Composer

    • Michael Den Elzen
    • Unit Manager

    • Chris Batty

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