
Madarrpa Funeral at Gurka’wuy
In 1976, Ian Dunlop was invited by Dundiwuy Wanambi, a leader of the Marrakulu clan, to Gurka’wuy on Trial Bay in the Gulf of Carpentaria. He wanted Film Australia to record the first major Marrakulu ceremony to be held at Gurka’wuy since its recent establishment as a clan settlement. While they were there, a baby boy died. The Madarrpa men, including the child’s father and Dundiwuy, asked for the funeral to be filmed.Mortuary rites of the Yolngu are extremely complex. Despite some practical modifications to traditional ceremonies as a result of life on mission stations, ritual remains extremely strong.
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- —
- Box office
- —
- Language
- EN
Behind the camera
Director
Produced in
Australia
Videos
No extra videos are listed for this title yet.
Release dates
AustraliaAU
- Premiere1 Jan 1979
Frequently asked questions
Madarrpa Funeral at Gurka’wuy was released on 1 January 1979.
Member reviews
Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign inMember comments
0Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.
Sign in











