In My Blood It Runs (2019) User Reviews

Social justice that is also lively cinema

[stephen-624 · 8/10 · 24 February 2020]

Australia postures as "the most successful multicultural nation on earth". Works for Anglos, Chinese, Indians, you name it. Not so well, if you're Indigenous.

Director Newell couldn't possibly have made this movie without the hard-earned trust of the communities and families. This pays off as cinema, as the central figure of Dujuan springs to life as a complex and renegade character at odds with his "white" schooling. Central locale Alice Springs, not the prettiest of towns, also springs to life visually, under artfully-chosen lenses and shots.

Along the way, Newell makes a powerful case for much more respect and resources to be thrown at Indigenous (non-school, land-based, language-based, elder-centric) channels and pathways of educating Indigenous kids.

It's a case that wouldn't cost that much to realise, in one of the richest countries on earth, which already has a two-tier schooling system in any event.

By OECD norms, a ridiculous share of our $50bn national schooling kitty goes to church schools with selective entry and uncapped fees. Yep, these pampered schools do take a few Indigenous kids. Just enough to make them look good.

Watch. This. Film.

[lewisarmstrong · 8/10 · 19 March 2020]

A must watch for any and every Australian. A beautiful and heartbreaking glimpse into indigenous life, through the eyes a young boy navigating his way through a landscape that belongs to his people, but faced against a system that doesn't care or respect this.

Quality documented visual information

[lukarhoderick · 8/10 · 5 July 2020]

It is footage and interviews compiled together to create a coherent story of a young indigenous boy dismantled by the system . If you are interested in indigenous culture and or social justice regarding this, then this is a great source of information . The director has filmed real life moments with real people and is displaying it simply as that, without any regard to modern art or societal expectations. A documentary needs to practically succeed in two things, that being interesting content and coherency with the exception of emotional attachment / meaningful awareness aswell . this documentary succeeds in all three critical aspects . I would rate this film 10, but the fact that is a documentary defies my IMDB ethos .

Moving

[ashleekarlar · 10/10 · 14 March 2020]

Just wow. WhaT an honest, beautiful depiction of a traumatic system.

Highlights the importance of culture

[a-shoo-in · 9/10 · 24 July 2020]

Maya Newell is a talented storyteller who gives kids and the things they have to say the chance to shine. A very fine and sensitive compilation of scenes that illustrates the inner conflict experienced by a young boy with dual cultural identity, in addition to the barriers the Arrernte people face preserving their culture. This reflection on the beauty and value of culture made me feel deep sadness imagining how a minority culture may be lost forever if it is not respected.

Self determination goes a long way

[sureshgrant · 8/10 · 3 August 2020]

This film shows me that if you give people the privilege to make the most of their lives (and culture), you give the same people the best opportunity of living their lives meaningfully and being fulfilled. Now Australia, we just need to invest in that.

Important message

[tom_b_hughes · 8/10 · 13 July 2020]

Indie doco with a very important message to tell.

The young boy who the documentary centres itself is very insightful and shares a poignant message.

Tragic and troubling in multiple ways

[axeld-83970 · 6/10 · 18 July 2023]

This film follows the life of a young Aboriginal boy, Dujuan, in the Northern Territory. It is a political film, highlighting issues with the governance of Aboriginal communities. Particularly disturbing was the Aunty's story of being starved in junvenile detention.

The film attempts to draw a connection between English-language Western education, and Dujuan's delinquency and property damage. I cringed at watching white Australian teachers teaching the history of the founding of Australia, and Aboriginal cultural beliefs, to Aboriginal children. I'm sympathetic to the film's ideas of self-governance at a community level, and I can see how teaching in the local language could have helped Dujuan.

At the same time, I left feeling troubled at the film's implication that Dujuan's troubles are entirely the fault of cross-cultural failings. The glaring issue is that Dujuan's parents are separated, and his father is not present for most of the film. In fact, there are no older men visible at all, in his upbringing by his mother's family.

Fatherless boys are known to become criminals at a much higher rate, regardless of race, especially when surrounded by other fatherless boys. And this is exactly what we see in Dujuan's life. He lacks older male role models in his life, and so hangs out on the street with older boys at night, and makes trouble. At the end of the film, when the boy is sent to live with his father, you can see how much calmer he is.

Australia will continue to do wrong by children like Dujuan as long as we continue to deny Aboriginal people moral agency. Much as Aboriginal people must demand effective governance from Australian voters, they must also demand responsible parenting from themselves. That starts with stable, healthy marriages, not broken homes.