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Women of the Sun

From Alfawiki
Women of the Sun
Company typeTelevision miniseries
IndustryTelevision, Entertainment
Founded1981
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsTelevision drama series

Women of the Sun is an Australian historical drama television miniseries that originally aired on SBS Television before being broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1981. Co-authored by Sonia Borg and Hyllus Maris, this four-part series, with each episode lasting 60 minutes, explores the experiences of four Aboriginal women spanning from the 1820s through to the 1980s. As the pioneering series to tackle this subject, it garnered numerous accolades, including two AWGIE Awards, five Penguin Awards, the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award, and the prestigious Banff Grand Prix in 1983.

Plot

The opening episode, titled "Alinta: The Flame" and set during the 1820s, illustrates the initial encounters between Aboriginal communities and European settlers. After caring for two English convicts who fall ill, the Nyari people confront encroachment as settlers seek land for grazing, which nearly leads to their destruction. Alinta (Yangathu Wanambi) and her child survive this devastation, with Alinta resolute in ensuring her daughter maintains their cultural heritage.

Set in the 1860s, "Maydina: The Shadow" follows Maydina, an Aboriginal woman taken by seal-hunters and subsequently separated from her mixed-race daughter Biri at a church mission. Attempting to resume a traditional lifestyle alongside a partner, they are pursued by troopers; while her partner is killed, Biri is removed from her care.

The third installment, "Nerida Anderson," draws inspiration from the 1939 "Cummeragunja walk-off" and the activism of Aboriginal leader Jack Patten. It centers on Nerida (Justine Saunders), who returns to a government reserve in decline. Confronted with resistance from the reserve manager and worsening conditions during World War II, Nerida spearheads her community’s decision to permanently leave the reserve.

The concluding episode, "Lo-Arna," set in the 1980s, revolves around 18-year-old Ann Cutler who discovers her Aboriginal heritage as well as that she is the biological daughter of her adoptive father Doug Cutler and Alice Wilson, an Aboriginal woman living in a nearby shantytown. Ann wrestles with whether to reach out to her birth mother as she seeks to resolve her identity struggles.

1: Alinta: The Flame

  • Young Alinta (Naykakan Munung)
  • Alinta (Yangathu Wanambi)
  • Murra (Gordon Lunyupi)
  • McNab (William Zappa)
  • Towradgi (Gatja Munyarryun)
  • Turuga (Garrala Gurruwiwi)
  • Morrorra (Walumarri Wunungmurra)
  • Kiah (Wurrandilngawuy)
  • Finlay (Adam Joseph)
  • Waroo (Nippuranydja Munungurr)
  • Young Wonda (Beyawuy Murawili)
  • Goodman (Tony Hawkins)
  • Fisher (David Scott)
  • Bosun (Ken Grant)
  • Stuckey (Reg Evans)

2: Maydina: The Shadow

3: Nerida Anderson

4: Lo-Arna

Production

The idea for this series, which explores Australia's colonisation from the viewpoints of Aboriginal women, was conceived by Aboriginal poet and educator Hyllus Maris'. She partnered with acclaimed screenwriter Sonia Borg, investing five years in crafting the screenplay.

Thanks to the initiative of producer Bob Weis, SBS Television commissioned the project. The scripts quickly received approval after impressing SBS founding director Bruce Gyngell during a senate committee session focused on Indigenous representation.

Filming occurred on-site in Victoria, Australia, under the direction of esteemed filmmakers James Ricketson, David Stevens, Stephen Wallace, and Geoffrey Nottage. The ensemble featured a blend of non-professional Aboriginal performers alongside seasoned television actors including William Zappa, Reg Evans, Julia Blake, Roger Oakley, Chris Haywood, Tommy Dysart, Justine Saunders, and Amanda Muggleton. Episode 3 showcased singer Maroochy Barambah, while Indigenous activists Essie Coffey and Wandjuk Marika made special appearances.

Cultural authenticity was further enriched by Yolngu artist Banduk Marika' who served as a translator throughout production.

Reception

Initially broadcast on SBS Television and subsequently on the Australian Broadcasting Commission in July 1981, the series offered a groundbreaking narrative that questioned conventional Australian historical accounts, earning widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. Over two years, Women of the Sun garnered numerous accolades, including two Awgies, five Penguin Awards, the United Nations Media Peace Prize, and the Banff Grand Prix.

Notably, it was pioneering in presenting Aboriginal history through the voices of women in their native languages to a national audience. The series also ignited vital conversations within Aboriginal communities regarding cultural matters.

In 2006, producer Bob Weis conducted interviews with the principal actresses to examine the series' influence on their personal journeys and its ongoing cultural significance. These discussions formed the foundation of a feature documentary titled Women of the Sun: 25 Years Later, which debuted at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

On 25 January 2007, marking the anniversary of Australia's colonisation, the series was featured by the Macleay Museum at the University of Sydney. This event included a final showing of the museum’s "Living Water" exhibition, which celebrated themes of Aboriginal identity.

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