The documentary was debuted at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival to widespread acclaim, and traces the story of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu (also referred to in death as Dr. G Yunupingu) who at the time of his passing in 2017, was the most commercially successful Indigenous artist of all time.
Gurrumul, who was born blind, was a talented multi-instrumentalist who specialised in guitar, drums, keyboards and didgeridoo, and was known for playing acoustic guitar upside down to suit his left-hand preference. As well as performing with Yothu Yindi and Saltwater Band, Gurrumul enjoyed a prosperous solo career, winning several ARIA Awards and performing for Queen Elizabeth II and Barrack Obama.
In light of the events in the United States that led to the free release of the documentary, which you can watch in full below, Madman Films shared a statement expressing their desire for Australian audiences to educate themselves on the issues facing Indigenous populations at home. They’ve also asked for viewers to donate to the Gurrumul Foundation after watching the film.
“It’s time for real change,” Madman’s statement reads. “For those who have committed themselves on the path of further understanding in the fight against racism, as both Australians and global citizens, we are making these 5 documentaries available to watch free in the month of June.
“We encourage you to take the time to learn, listen & donate. Please share these films and talk about them with your friends and family.”
View the documentary here, or head to Madman to watch the full list of films. You can donate to the Gurrumul Foundation here.
