Now on NFSA Player

MARCO POLO JNR VERSUS THE RED DRAGON: I found a 1974 review of this film in the BFI’s Monthly Film Bulletin that described it as ‘another hopeless case of playing safe’ and doggedly listed its cliches, including a ‘jumping-jack baddy who sings about how he likes to be mean’... Well, I can safely say that these are the things I hopelessly LOVE about this film. It had me hooked right from the psychedelic astrological opening sequence. The beautiful animations of Xanadu perched atop a cliff in the clouds, the musical numbers, Princess Shining Moon’s wardrobe (fashionable AND functional for fighting the comically evil Red Dragon) – it’s all so much fun with amazing nostalgic quest energy.

RANGLE RIVER: I’m so curious to see Rangle River in full on NFSA Player. I’m obsessed with the idea of 'lost classics' that can give us new insights into the past but can also take on a whole new light in the present day. I know about this film more by reputation. Unsurprisingly, as a film featuring singing cowboys and based around a bromance between a strapping Aussie cattleman and a fey English adventurer, it has earned itself minor cult status as a sleeper queer classic. I’ve watched clips from it and it’s hard to believe that the filmmakers weren’t at least slyly nodding to the possibility of same-sex attraction in 1930s Western Queensland. Fun, original, and with a dash of camp: that’s how we like our cult classics.

MR PATTERNS: Mr Patterns is a fascinating and tender film that tells the remarkable story of Geoff Bardon and his close and enduring friendships with the Papunya First Nations people, resulting in the world-renowned Papunya Tula art movement. This beautifully directed film intercuts Bardon’s original colour footage shot during his years as a teacher in Papunya with interviews with Bardon, the artist Michael Nelson Tjakamarra and those who worked with him at the Papunya school. Featuring throughout the film are the intricately painted Papunya Tula artworks described by Hetti Perkins, an Arrernte and Kalkadoon curator, as having both 'spatial and spiritual perspective'. Bardon’s passion and the brilliance of the Papunya Tula artists emanate from the film and stay with you long after.

ROLLER DERBY GIRLS: Go, go roller girl, look at that girl go! When I was a little kid, I used to watch the women’s roller derby league on TV with my dad. The roller derby women were strong, fierce and fearless – I loved them! Roller Derby Girls is a 2008 documentary about the re-emergence of women’s roller derby leagues in Australia, specifically Brisbane. Featured are the Sun State Roller Girls who are visited in one of their training sessions by some original 1970s roller derby women. The OGs are obviously as pleased as punch to see a new generation of women participating in the sport they love. Documentary filmmaking should highlight the spectrum of everyday life, and Roller Derby Girls is a cracker. Like the derby women who came before them, the Sun State Roller Girls are strong, fierce and fearless.

THE STORY OF ROSY DOCK: This beautiful animated short film is highly nostalgic for me, having grown up lovingly borrowing Jeannie Baker’s books from my primary school library, reading and attempting to re-create some of her miniature collage constructions. The Story of Rosy Dock uses an emotive soundtrack mixing flute, piano and strings with the sounds of natural bird and insect song, rain, storms and running water then contrasting them with sharp man-made sounds of whips, voices and rattling tin. This is combined with gentle storytelling narration and the animated, textured movement of Baker’s gorgeous collages created from natural and artificial materials. The technique of using sound and music, storytelling and visually beautiful artwork to explore and highlight an important environmental message in only 9 minutes is inspiring and what makes The Story of Rosy Dock one of my favourite titles in the NFSA’s Film Australia Collection.