Theme How is it conveyed Why is it conveyed Specific eg.

Terra nullius •Through the role and attitude of P.J. Kilorian - •Consideration of terra nullius underpins the •"You are young and hot headed, and it
(civil rights) protector in islands relationship between indigenous and non- is my job to protect you from yourself."
indigenous Australians for two hundred years
of settlement. Concept of empty land
negates the aboriginal and Torres strait land
claims
•Through the two challenges in the Australian •The overturning of terra nullius is one of the •"Is this the one?" Quotes from
courts: Mabo v Qld Gov. and Mabo v Aus. Gov. central themes of Mabo, and is the reason Reynolds and Eddie at JCU when Eddie
• the case for land on Murray island was defeated why Eddie Mabo became a key figure in learns that the land on Murray island is
by prosecutors who made Eddie appear greedy Australian political and social history not legally his, despite what he has
and too articulate to genuinely be a Murray believed his whole life, and what we see
islander, and disconnected from Murray island. in the opening sequence of the film
•The case against the federal Gov. "the one" is
ultimately successful in overturning terra nullius
Love, family, •Love story between Bonita and Eddie. She stood •He wants to be a family man (starting the •Beautiful silhouette...doorway. Sunlight
relationships by him for 30 years in everything he did, and she indigenous school). It is important to him. He behind you, you were just a silhouette.
was a big part of his life becomes so caught up in the land claim. Beautiful silhouette. I reckon that’s the
•"I've lived through this 9 years, morning day moment I fell in love with you. Even
and night before I knew you was gonna make
history
•the train scene
•Weakness of Mabo's connection with his •“I never knew how hard it was for you
children. The weak connection between Mabo to grow them up.”
and his children develops the audience's Lack of scenes with his children included
understanding of the sacrifice Mabo was making •"I can prove it five generations at least"
for the land claim. [cut back to one of the children sleeping
•The land seems to become an obsession for him, and listening to the conversation]
and is displayed using a cut to one of his children
listening to his conversation with Bonita.
•The case became everything, and although he
loved his children, Mabo was consumed by the
land claim.
•Mabo's pride in his children, and teaching them •"Good boy" His pride when he recited
about culture. Many of the scenes where we do the octopus story
see the children, Mabo
Injustice •Often overlaps with racism. Film highlights •Aboriginal and Torres strait islanders are •"We hand it down from father to son,
conflict between traditional and European system without a voice how can we not own it?"
of ownership, Focus on civil rights links to the Eddie says to council on Murray Island
international sense of indigenous and black rights "this is the most important thing that's
evident in the 1960s and 1970s. happened on Murray Island in 200 years.
•Ultimate injustice: Eddie Mabo dies without
knowing the outcome of case. Greg McIntyre
appeals (unsuccessfully) for a quicker judgement
in recognition of this injustice.
•Disempowered as second class citizens •Council does not recognise this. Doesn't
•Disempowerment shown through denial of see the issue as bigger than Eddie's claim
right of access to visit his dying father for land he left 30 years ago. This plays
into the hands of the Qld Gov., who uses
the same thinking to undermine his claim
Racism and •Through the discriminatory laws •To give insight to viewers of how horrible •When the police officer stopped Mabo
inequality • Through the unequal treatment imposed on Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders to check him for doing nothing, saying
Mabo and his family by white Australians in were treated in the late 20th century were “you know the drill”
Townsville treated Townsville, Australia – and how
unequal treatment shaped their position in •Mabo not being able to get a drink from
society the bar with a sign “I’m not leaving until I
get a drink” to which the waiter replied
that it wasn’t him, but “the law” and this
leads to Eddie getting locked up
•This is shown by when Bonita says, “People •“People like us can’t afford to be
like us can’t afford to be troublemakers” to troublemakers”
which Mabo replied “Bonita, people like us •threatening calls that Mabo’s family
have no choice but to be troublemakers.” received
Murray •Eddie's pride in his son in being able to retell •To show pride that Mabo has in his •'This is who you are'
island and traditional stories of Malo connection to the land
the
traditional
way of life •In his first meeting with Netta he introduces •Shows the audience how deep this •“I’m sending you this coconut as a
himself as Koiki not his 'white' name that connection is and allows the viewer to reminder of home”.
disconnects him from his connection Conveyed understand what Mabo is fighting for, •In the opening scene, his father teaches
through the contrast between life on the island through this the audience can emphasise him an appreciation of the land and the
and life on the mainland with Mabo's plight Merriam way of life “They made him die
•This connection is portrayed through singing, without being able to look his son in the
when Eddie goes to the mainland his connection eye and fulfil tradition”.
the land is diminished and in a poignant scene the
importance of maintaining his culture Is shown
•The opening scene establishes a connection
between Mabo and the land through his father
and him on the shore of the island, his father
teaches him an appreciation of the land and the
Merriam way of life
•The traditional music also reinforces this
connection