Brian Syron (19 November 1934 – 14 October 1993) was a human rights advocate, teacher, actor, writer, stage director and Australia's first Indigenous feature film director who has been recognised as the first First Nations feature film director.
"Jindalee Lady is the first time an Aboriginal or non Aboriginal has shown Aboriginal people in a middle class melodramatic production. For me as an Elder of my community I have a responsibility to my people in my work as an artist to carry out their wishes. My community believes it is essential for the survival of my race that we see ourselves living in urban Australia, involved in personal and emotional issues that do not exclusively revolved around poverty and lower socio economic groupings. Our dreaming must continue and we indigenous peoples must live in two worlds. I tried to do what my community expected and wanted of me when I made Jindalee Lady. We wanted to feel proud when we walked out of the cinema!
2
Many people may wonder how many people of Chinese, Indian, French or Polish origin have made a feature film in Australia. I have no idea. What I do know is that there have been many Chinese, Indian, French and Polish people who have directed feature films in China, India, France and Poland - but only 2 Aboriginal people have ever directed a feature film in Australia - their own country.
3
Jindalee Lady is a film about romance and dreams because without romance and dreams my people will have nothing.
$14 Million
