Dennis O'Rourke: Opinions From Australians Wanted

[puff_not_snuff]

Some Aussie I befriended recently who makes documentaries turned me onto the films of Dennis O'Rourke. I've only watched Cannibal Tours and half of Cunnamulla so far, and they were probably two of the most peculiar, thought provoking and sordid documentaries I've ever seen. This guy really had a way with the camera and getting really up-close to people's lives. I had a hard time finishing Cunnamulla as it was just a bit too depressing for me at the time, but I will revisit it. I'm curious what the Australian contingent here thinks of his films, particularly Cunnamulla. He seems to be a rather polarizing figure down under, which I can understand. Some might argue Cunnamulla sort of ruined those two girls lives but they didn't seem to have much of a start to begin with and he was helping to document a community that seemed all but forgotten or ignored by the greater society. Cannibal Tours on the other hand... well, what I found the most interesting about this film is that not only did it effectively make the point that the actual people on those tours were the real cannibals but it also sort of turned the viewer into one as I think the average person (including myself) decided to watch the film out of some abject desire to see cannibalism.

Both films are on YouTube for those who might be interested.

 

[Brendan]

Sad to say this Australian member has no clue to the above - but that might be saying more about my personal preference and/or a generational thing..

Hope you get some meaningful replies from the other Aussies here.

At least you can go along your day knowing I have contributed

 

[puff_not_snuff]

At least you can go along your day knowing I have contributed

Contribution noted but I think Dennis O'Rourke despite being both a prolific and controversial film maker has faded into obscurity for some reason, so I'm not surprised if he's unknown to a lot of well informed Aussies. He also made a film about his relationship with a whore in Bangkok which I will watch one night after my girlfriend falls asleep.

 

[Brendan]

He also made a film about his relationship with a whore in Bangkok which I will watch one night after my girlfriend falls asleep.

Wise plan puff.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Wise plan puff.

Brendan, have you ever even heard of the town of Cunnamulla? Seems like it's a good place to get drunk for cheap but one which you might wake up hours later tied up and being told to squeal like an ostrich.

 

[Brendan]

It sounds familiar but I had to google it, just to see exactly where it is. Would have guessed outback but not which state. Not my kind of place to visit, the outback that is, couldn't handle the isolation, heat etc. I think you are right though - kind of Mad Max vibes..

 

[Pipeoff]

Found this post interesting for this Yankee but subtitle’s should have been added for the non indigenous people.

 

[Brendan]

Found this post interesting for this Yankee but subtitle’s should have been added for the non indigenous people.

Can't tell if ya bein' fair-dinkum or takin' the piss..

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Can't tell if ya bein' fair-dinkum or takin' the piss..

So, can you actually understand most of what they say in that documentary, I mean from what you've seen?

@Pipeoff I turned on the YouTube subtitles when I watched it but their AI doesn't do a very good job..."c**t" for example kept on being translated at "country" or something.

 

[Brendan]

I just tried to watch it now actually, made about 2mins in total, random bits ; the couple in the Korn t-shirts and how he's giving her grief for his own shitty behaviour, then went back to a bit about Cara, the girl that looks about 12 and is worried about her Pop finding out about her sex life "Don't want him to know in case he puts a bullet in him you know"..

Outback Australia is a good place for that shit, got enough ferals in this country to deal with.

Sadly yes, I can understand it all - and sadder yes, C**t is thrown around very casually down under.
But most blokes would never say it in front of a lady.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

Outback Australia is a good place for that shit, got enough ferals in this country to deal with.

Sadly yes, I can understand it all - and sadder yes, C**t is thrown around very casually down under.
But most blokes would never say it in front of a lady.

Well... the USA isn't all that much different in spots sadly but the c-word here has always been a hard no for even most of the hardcore degenerates. Oddly though, it seems to be used rather casually and in a different manner by the British. Maybe that has changed, I dunno... I never heard Inspector Morse use it or Dr. Who.

 

[mso489]

I worry about this as a dimension of entertainment, though I haven't seen the films, It sounds more like instructional material for graduate courses in abnormal psychology.

Once again reciting my high school Alexander Pope stanza:

Vice is a creature so frightful a mein
to be hated needs but to be seen,
but seen too oft, too familiar with its face,
we first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Same thing to Quentin Tarantino films, though I did like "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood," which at least had moral longings. "Pulp Fiction" not so much, though the the critics thought it sublime, as did other creatives whose opinions I otherwise respect.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I worry about this as a dimension of entertainment, though I haven't seen the films, It sounds more like instructional material for graduate courses in abnormal psychology.

Documentaries can serve a purpose other than to simply entertain (like any good art) and I doubt that anyone would sit through either of these as a simple source of amusement. Not sure what Hollywood films like those of Tarantino have to do with these especially considering they aren't live action films.

 

[LotusEater]

@puff_not_snuff
I’m going to watch both of these when I have the time a maybe check out some other Dennis O'Rourke stuff. I’d never heard of him until reading your post but I watched a few minutes of Cunnamulla just now and I found it oddly captivating. I only have the vaguest idea what’s going on in these peoples lives but I want to see more.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

@puff_not_snuff
I’m going to watch both of these when I have the time a maybe check out some other Dennis O'Rourke stuff. I’d never heard of him until reading your post but I watched a few minutes of Cunnamulla just now and I found it oddly captivating. I only have the vaguest idea what’s going on in these peoples lives but I want to see more.

Let me know how you "like it". Yea, there is this sort of hypnotic rhythmic cadence to how they speak which is relaxing until you understand what they're saying. I don't know why but I always think you're from Australia and have clicked on your profile tog more than once only to discover you're in MO, which is a long way from Brisbane, Toto.

 

[LotusEater]

Let me know how you "like it". Yea, there is this sort of hypnotic rhythmic cadence to how they speak which is relaxing until you understand what they're saying. I don't know why but I always think you're from Australia and have clicked on your profile tog more than once only to discover you're in MO, which is a long way from Brisbane, Toto.

I’m actually Canadian although I’’ve been in KC for 17 or 18 yrs.
Still a long way from Brisbane