WHALEDREAMERS
A
JULIAN LENNON PRODUCTION
Director Kim Kindersley proudly announces
the release of the long awaited film - WHALEDREAMERS.
Singer
and songwriter, Julian Lennon presents the awarding winning film, WHALEDREAMERS,
written, directed and produced by Kim Kindersley. The film is narrated by Jack
Thompson with guest appearances from John Hurt, Julian Lennon, Jack Thompson,
Pierce Brosnan and Geoffrey Rush. Wayne Young, David Jowsey and Napier Marten
are the executive producers.
With the current concerns over
global warming and the future of humanity seemingly hanging in the balance comes
a story of hope, awakening and reconciliation.
WHALEDREAMERS
is the heartfelt story of the return of an aboriginal whale dreaming tribe from
the edge of extinction and the equally long journey of the whales, not only to
survive the slaughter by man, but to engage the human race into waking up in time.
This
thought provoking film recently made its World Premiere at The Hayden Orpheum,
Cremorne, to a standing ovation.
With breathtaking cinematography,
the film follows the Mirning people, declared extinct by the local Government,
on a powerful journey, assisted by eighty-five indigenous elders from around the
globe, in an historical gathering called to bear witness to their reconnection
with their past and their spirit animal totem - the southern right whale.
Over
fifteen years in the making, across five continents and oceans, the film is a
personal odyssey for British filmmaker, Kim Kindersley in his quest to find his
spiritual roots, while experiencing and documenting the extraordinary connection,
both ancient and modern, between humanity and the cetaceans.
After
a life changing experience in 1990 when Kindersley swam with a dolphin in the
magical waters around Ireland's Dingle Bay, he searched the world for native people
with a spiritual connection to whales and dolphins.
Kindersley
spoke to Amazonian Indians, Pacific Islanders, North American Indians, African
people and Australian native tribes, particularly the Mirning people from South
Australia.
The film is also a journey that parallels two odysseys
- the journey of the Mirning people and the long, long journey of the whales,
not only to survive the slaughter by man, but also to engage the human race into
waking up in time,
Stories of the gathering attracted international
media interest. In 1998 Kindersley's longtime friend Julian Lennon, inspired by
the Mirning's struggle, and the continued slaughter of the humpback whales, flew
to Australia to meet the tribe. Lennon was so moved by his connection with the
Mirnings, he offered his support to co-produce the film and has subsequently re-recorded
his 1991 hit "Saltwater" for the film's soundtrack, with the proceeds
going to 'the defenders of the world's oceans', Greenpeace.
"Their
culture had been compromised by their forcible transfer to missions at the turn
of the century which grew worse when the government sanctioned nuclear testing
in the area and simply with the stroke of a pen, declared the Mirnings extinct"
Kim explained.
This historical gathering, which took place
in 1998 at the Nullarbor ocean cliffs in South Australia, was the start of a process
to show the world that the Mirning people were the traditional owners of this
land, where they had carried out whale dreaming ceremonies for centuries. "The
Mirning people have an historical connection with the ocean, the whales and dolphins.
Julian and I wanted to do something for them - to bring their story to the world.
" says Kim.
Lennon sees the film as a wake-up call. "We
don't stand on a soapbox and tell people what to do or how to feel. It's a story
that illuminates a lot of environmental issues - and we all face these. The film
is a stepping stone which I hope helps people connect to the issues of our time,"
explains Lennon.
Though WHALEDREAMERS was not an official 2007
Cannes Film Festival entrant, as it had been screened at other festivals, it previewed
to glowing reviews at last year's (2007) Cannes Film Festival. Wayne Young, the
film's executive producer (Crocodile Dundee, Fern Gully) said interest in the
film has built. "When we started, no one anticipated the current surge of
interest in climate change, nor the renewed threat to our whales from attempts
to reintroduce commercial whaling".
Winner of eight international
prestigious awards, including 2006 "Best Film" and "The Independent
Spirit Award" in Monaco; "Best Documentary Film" at The Fantasy
Worldwide Film Festival in Toronto; "Best Film" in New Zealand, Byron
Bay and "Best Environmental" documentary at the inaugural Ibiza Film
festival.
'Whaledreamers' is distributed by L.A.Entertainment
Pty Ltd and is available now on DVD.
