The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson (Melbourne)

Join AACTA for our special screening of THE DROVER’S WIFE THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON, followed by a Q&A with writer, director and star Leah Purcell and producer for Oombarra productions Bain Stewart – exclusive and complimentary to AACTA members and their guests.

THE DROVER’S WIFE THE LEGEND OF MOLLY JOHNSON is part of Leah Purcell’s Indigenous reimagining of Henry Lawson’s 1892 short story, The Drover’s Wife. It spans theatre, literature and now film, and sees Purcell literally rewrite white Australian literary history, using Lawson’s short story as a Trojan horse to enter the Australian psyche and shift it.

This is also the first Australian feature film with an Indigenous woman writing, directing and performing the lead role, and as such the film brings a powerful female gaze to the traditionally male Western. Expressing what it means to be black, Purcell casts an eye on feminist, Indigenous and First Nation issues as well as incorporating her own lived experiences and those of her ancestors.

“As an Aboriginal creator, expressing what it means to be black within today’s world through my work in film, television and theatre is vitally important to me. Our traditions can be destroyed, and our languages lost but our stories are ours, and ours to tell.“ - Leah Purcell

You can view the trailer here: