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David Gulpilil (Gurlpiril is linguistically correct though he is sometimes credited as David Gumpilil) (b. July 1, 1953), is an indigenous Australian traditional dancer and actor. He is a Yolngu man of Mandhalpuyngu language group.
His first starring role was Walkabout.
Early life
As a young boy, David Gulpilil was an accomplished hunter, tracker and ceremonial dancer. Unlike many indigenous people of his generation, Gulpilil spent his childhood in the bush, outside the range of Anglo-Australian influences. There, he received a traditional upbringing in the care of his family. He attended the mission school at Maningrida in Australia's North East Arnhem Land. When he came of age, Gulpilil was initiated into the Mandhalpuyngu tribal group. His skin-group totemic animal is the eagle and his homeland is Marwuyu. After appearing in his first film, he added English to several tribal languages in which he was already fluent.
His First Film
Gulpilil's extraordinary skill as a tribal dancer caught the attention of British filmmaker Nicholas Roeg, who had come to Maningrida scouting locations for a forthcoming film. Roeg promptly cast the fifteen year old unknown to play a principal role in his internationally acclaimed motion picture Walkabout, which first screened in 1970. Gulpilil's on-screen charisma was such that he became an instant celebrity. He traveled to distant lands, mingled with famous people and was presented to heads of state. During these travels to promote the film, he met and was impressed with John Lennon, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Muhammed Ali, and Bruce Lee.
edit] Life in the Arts
After his high profile performance in Walkabout, Gulpilil went on to appear in many more films and television productions.
Perhaps the most renowned traditional dancer in his country, he has organized troupes of dancers and musicians and has performed at festivals throughout Australia including the prestigious Darwin Australia Day Eisteddfod dance competition, which he won four times.
In addition to his career in dance, music, film and television, Gulpilil is also an acclaimed storyteller. He has written the text for two volumes of children's stories based on Yolngu beliefs. These books also feature photographs and drawings by Australian artists and convey Gulpilil's reverence for the landscape, people and traditional culture of his homeland. Gulpilil's latest artistic triumph is his appearance in an autobiographical stage production in March of 2004 at the Adelaide Festival of Arts 2004.
Struggles Between Two Worlds
During his career, Gulpilil has encountered racism and discrimination at the hands of some of the agencies and individuals that have employed him. His talent as a dancer and film actor has proved lucrative to others, yet he himself has failed to receive financial compensation equal to that of other featured players. For instance, he played a substantial speaking (and dancing) role in the film Crocodile Dundee but he was only paid $10,000 total for his work. This film went on to earn millions in worldwide distribution and is still bringing in cash for its producers.
Gulpilil has struggled personally with alcoholism and depression. After a period of incarceration for substance abuse-related offences, Gulpilil returned to his family and friends at Ramingining in the Northern Territory and reconnected with his spiritual roots.
Gulpilil Today
David Gulpilil continues to find himself torn between two worlds. On the one hand, he is said to have committed the worst of tribal offences and is banned from returning to his community. On the other hand, he has shown glimmers of hope and salvation in recent years. For example, he is said to have rededicated himself to the service of his community with particular focus on the problems of Aboriginal youth. He has given much of his earnings to the Aborigine tribes. At a conference in Adelaide in the summer of 2000, Gulpilil performed traditional dances and shared his recovery story with hundreds of indigenous young people. He continues to provide much-needed mentorship to them, while lending his support to social and political causes such as the pursuit of tribal land claims for indigenous people. He joins other Australian artists in calling for government recognition of and compensation for the suffering of the "Stolen Generation" - children of mixed European and Aboriginal parentage who were forcibly removed from their indigenous families and placed in mission schools or with white adoptive parents far from their kin and homelands.
A documentary about his life, Gulpilil: One Red Blood, was aired on ABC in 2003. The title comes from a quote by Gulpilil: “We are all one blood. No matter where we are from, we are all one blood, the same”.
Gulpilil's latest film, Ten Canoes, won the Cannes Special Jury Prize award at the 2006 Cannes Festival. The prize-winning, low-budget film, based on 1,000-year-old traditional story of misplaced love and revenge, features non-professional indigenous actors speaking their local dialect. Gulpilil collaborated with the director, Rolf de Heer, urging him to make the film, and although he ultimately withdrew from a central role in the project for "complex reasons," Gulpilil also provided the voice of the storyteller for the film. De Heer directed Gulpilil in another film, The Tracker (2002).
Selected filmography
* Walkabout (1971)
* Storm Boy (1976), Fingerbone
* The Last Wave (1977), Chris Lee
* The Right Stuff (1983)
* Crocodile Dundee (1986), Neville Bell
* Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), Moodoo
* The Tracker (2002)
* The Proposition (2005)
* Ten Canoes (2006)
Television
* The Timeless Land (1980), Bennelong
* Naked Under Capricorn (1989), Activity
| Latest news about David Gulpilil |
Gulpilil appears in court on grog chargeAboriginal actor David Gulpilil briefly appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court on Tuesday over drinking offences. Continue reading
Darwin vs Bowen. Australia premiere.David Gulpilil told the Northern Territory News exclusively that Luhrmann had advised him the movie would be shown first at Darwin cinema in November. And the film's Hollywood stars - Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman - would walk the red ... Continue reading
Actor Gulpilil back in courtAustralian Indigenous actor David Gulpilil has appeared in a Northern Territory court on alcohol charges. Gulpilil, whose films include Storm Boy, The Tracker and Ten Canoes, has been charged with co... Continue reading
Watch Serenades — Get It Online Immediately!Don’t wait another minute to see Serenades… Check out this great movie today! I think David Gulpilil and Aden Young were incredible together! And, the great cast includes David Gulpilil, Aden Young, Nico Lathouris, Billie Brown. ... Continue reading
View The Great Barrier Reef — Get It Online Now!The great cast includes Rosalind Ayres, Philip L. Clarke, David Gulpilil. If you love watching Rosalind Ayres or Philip L. Clarke, you are definitely going to want to watch The Great Barrier Reef ... Continue reading
202. THE TRACKER (2002)The year is 1922 and The Tracker (David Gulpilil, Walkabout, Rabbit-Proof Fence) has the job of pursuing The Fugitive - an aborigine who is suspected of murdering a white woman - as he leads three mounted policemen: The Fanatic, ... Continue reading
Watch Serenades — Get It Online Instantly!WOW what an outstanding movie! I thinkDavid Gulpilil and Aden Young were amazing together! The great cast includes David Gulpilil, Aden Young, Nico Lathouris, Billie Brown. If you love watching David Gulpilil or Aden Young, ... Continue reading
The Tracker and the Aborigine Star David Gulpilil Inspired, after ...Inspired, after viewing the Australian film, Rabbit Proof Fence, I rented another Australian film titled, The Tracker, which also starred Aboriginal actor, David Gulpilil. The story takes place in 1922, when a group of government bounty ... Continue reading
Rabbit-Proof Fence — Get It Online Now!Jason Clarke and David Gulpilil were great together! The great cast includes Jason Clarke, David Gulpilil, Ken Radley, Kenneth Branagh, Garry McDonald. If you love watching Jason Clarke or David Gulpilil, you are definitely going to ... Continue reading
Serenades — Review It Instantly!David Gulpilil and Aden Young were great together! The great cast includes David Gulpilil, Aden Young, Nico Lathouris, Billie Brown. If you love watching David Gulpilil or Aden Young, you are definitely going to want to watch Serenades ... Continue reading
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