Mabo Film Techniques

Camera shots

In the biographical film Mabo the Audience is positioned by the filmmakers to see Eddie Koiki Mabo as a hardworking, tenacious and strong man.

In the opening scene in Mabo we are shown a young Eddie and his father standing on a beach fishing on Murray Island. A wide camera shot is used to see all of Mabo and his father in traditional Murray Island garb Spearfishing. Benny tells a young Eddie that this land is all his. The wide shot is used to position the audience to show the deep connection Eddie has to the island. Long shots and panning are used to show the scenery of Murray Island, which illuminates the beauty and tranquillity of the island and further enforces Mabo’s deep cultural connection to the island and reinforces the idea in the audience that he has an undisputed claim to the land. Flashbacks are used to remind the audience of the connection and subsequent distress Eddie feels in being unable to return to Murray Island.

Racism is a prominent theme throughout biographical film. The ways in which Eddie reacts and deals with the racism positions the viewers to see Eddie as resilient and tough. When Eddie is denied a drink in the pub because he is

Bonita becomes Eddies grounding force and stays by his side. Eddies love positions the audience to see him as a loving, caring family man. From the moment when Eddie first sees Bonita at her cousin's wedding the audience sees a softer and a more loving side to Eddie. Bonita plays a large part in Eddie changing from a rough alcoholic into a focused man determined to prove himself to his family and Australia. Costume is also used to show eddies transformation. From wearing traditional Murray Island garb, when he was young, to dirty ‘tradesperson’ clothes and eventually cleaning himself up and buying suits and dress shirts for court to appear more professional. These costume changes represent the changes in his