I’ll be honest. When I first heard good things about the movie Ten Canoes, I was sceptical. I wondered if it really was good, or it was just politically correct to give it good reviews. I didn’t see it at the cinema, but I did watch the DVD yesterday (a legitimate, hired copy — not a dodgy pirate or bootleg disc). What did I think? It was really good, and I would happily recommend it.
Ten Canoes is a dramatisation of a native Australian folk story/legend or whatever you want to call it. It’s slow paced, interesting and humorous at times. It opens a window on the indigenous culture and way of life in what’s now the Northern Territory. On top of that, it’s well produced, with good locations, acting and camerawork.
So if you’ve got the time, and you want to watch something slow, rent a copy of it. You won’t be disappointed.