Dark Emu facts rise above controversy for ABC

When ABC first announced a Dark Emu documentary project in 2019 the plan was to bring to television the arguments raised in Bruce Pascoe’s best selling book of the same name.

But despite winning two NSW Premier’s Literary Awards its subject would become a point of contention, principally because Pascoe challenges the claim that pre-colonial Australian Aboriginal peoples were only hunter-gatherers.

Instead the book makes the argument that First Nations people settled in villages, lived in houses, devised extraordinary methods of aquaculture and astronomy and were, amongst many other achievements, the world’s first bakers. Academics and conservative media commentators criticised its elements and, at times, Pascoe’s own Aboriginality.

What was to have been a doco series by Blackfella Films (Total Control, Redfern Now, First Weapons) was delayed, in part by the pandemic, and by a pivot to a feature docoumentary The Dark Emu Story. It now reponds to the controversy and places Pascoe at the centre of its narrative.

ABC Head of Indigenous tells TV Tonight, “Bruce had never talked about this stuff publicly. I think he’d been quite private about the impacts of the debate, around himself and around the book. This film represents the first time that he actually addresses those things directly.

“A unique part of the conversation that was being had in this film, was Bruce’s perspective from his own mouth. So for us, that was really important. But having said that… it was just as important, if not more important for us to ensure that those traditional custodians from those locations that feature in the book, were front and centre in this film.

“It’s not necessarily wholly through Bruce’s eyes. It’s through the community’s eyes that they see themselves and are able to speak to their own experience, which I think is just as important as Bruce’s point of view.”

One of Pascoe’s most vocal detractors Peter Sutton explains his major criticisms of the book, which culminates in Sutton and Pascoe coming face-to-face to challenge each other’s point of view. Also featuring are Stan Grant, Marcia Langton, Bill Gammage and Narelda Jacobs.

“All that Bruce has ever tried to do is just tell the truth about what exactly has happened. The truth that he’s presented is based on those journals that have famously been illustrated through his book. The people who have gravitated to Dark Emu, who have been part of that phenomenon of the book sales and the culture that has been created around that, I would say probably are in agreement with the things that are presented and can see those truths,” says Martin.

“I don’t think we’re trying to do anything else except present the truth as best as we can. And I think that’s what Bruce has done.”

To questions of Pascoe’s own Aboriginality, some of which has emerged from within First Nations communities, Martin believes the book’s arguments rise above those around his ancestry.

“It doesn’t really matter whether Bruce is Aboriginal or not. That doesn’t change the facts of the book, or change the positions of those custodians that are featured in the film. I mean, they still have that connection to their country, those innovations, those places of evidence that prove that Aboriginal people had these things ….

“I am not the Judge of all people. I’m not here to kind of decide who’s Aboriginal and who’s not. I think what was more important, from my perspective is that what was presented in the book resonated with people. That seems to be the important thing. I think the fact that it was based in fact, that it was based in evidence, and the undeniable culture maintained by the traditional custodians of these incredible places, was really important. I just don’t think that the argument or the debate around Bruce’s Aboriginality is as important as what’s being presented to people as a result of this book and a result of this film.”

The end result, at least for ABC, is a feature film written & directed by Allan Clarke, produced by Darren Dale, Belinda Mravicic, Jacob Hickey, with revelations from the book, the communities it centred around, various sides of the controversy which followed and some rich cinematography.

The decision that Blackfella Films made to not necessarily focus wholly on the book, but to incorporate the dynamic and the conversation around Dark Emu was a very smart one and one that we were willing to take.

“I think the story itself lends itself better to a single experience a single viewing experience a one off, and a feature length was probably the most reasonable length of time that we could give it in order to fully explore the story really.” Martin explains.

“They’re absolutely spectacular landscapes with very clear evidence of the resourcefulness and innovation that’s being presented here.

“I think all they’ve ever wanted to do is just be recognised for it and for that to be a part of our national conversation, our national history, and for Indigenous people to feel valued as part of that history. Maybe that doesn’t sit right with people. I don’t know, but that’s all, I think, anyone’s ever asked for.”

The Dark Emu Story 8:30pm Tuesday on ABC.