Mabo: Life of an Island Man

 

"A gripping story about heroism in the face of impossible odds.  A classic story of a man battling The System for his rights."—The Sunday Age

 

A man ahead of his time, Eddie Koiki Mabo, left an indelible legacy to the people of Australia, reshaping the landscape and opening up possibilities that many never dreamed of.  Mabo - Life of An Island Man is the AFI Award winning film about the gently spoken public and private man and his inspirational triumph of justice in one of the most important developments in Australian history.

 

Born on Murray Island in the Torres Strait, Eddie Mabo tragically lived most of his life in exile. It was not until June 3 1992, six months after his death, that the entire island community welcomed him home, after the High Court of Australia upheld his claim that Murray Islanders held "native title" to three islands within the region - successfully challenging the notion of terra nullius, which asserted that Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders did not have a system of legal ownership predating white settlement.

 

Both controversial and captivating, filmmaker Trevor Graham delves deep into the life of a devoted and passionate family man, investigating the dynamic person who would challenge the Australian socio-political climate and fight for change every step of the way, forever ensuring his place on Murray Island and in Australian history.