Wrong Side of the Road (1981)
Directed by Ned Lander
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Synopsis by Eleanor Mannikka
Although the scripting, acting, and plot lines are less than ideal, this dramatized documentary merits attention since it is the first Australian initiative to chronicle the experiences of Aboriginals from their own perspective, allowing the audience to view the behavior of the white majority from the "wrong side of the road." As the real bands "Us Mob" and "No Fixed Address" make their way through the country on a road tour, they encounter mistreatment from an arrogant hotel manager, physical and verbal abuse from the police, and are ignored by uncaring government officials. One outlet for their plight is music, and their lyrics praise their skills at survival in a hostile world. This film won the Jury Prize at the 1981 Australian Film Festival.