Big Boss (30-Day Rental)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS RESIDING IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ANY ORDERS FOR THIS PRODUCT THAT ARE PLACED FROM OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED.

PLEASE NOTE: If paying via purchase order, your 30-day rental period will begin when we approve your order. (Approvals are usually processed regularly during trading hours, but please allow up to two business days.) If paying up-front via credit card or PayPal, you will have access to stream the file in a matter of minutes, and your 30-day rental period will begin straight away.

You will receive an email (separate to your tax invoice) with a link to watch this video once your payment is received (or when we approve your purchase order).

Director – Paul Sinclair

Producer – Tom Zubrycki

Murrungga Island is at the top end of Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory.  This is where we find 95-year-old Baymarrwangga, or as she is affectionately known, 'Big Boss', who was honoured as 'Senior Australian of the Year, 2012'.

Big Boss is the story of this 95-year-old Indigenous Elder and her challenge as the remaining leader of the Yan-nhangu people to pass on her traditional knowledge to the next generation. 

The film outlines Baymarrwangga’s life story, from her time as a young girl on Murrungga, to the time she saw the arrival of missionaries, witnessed the arrival of Japanese and European fishermen, and then experienced war and tumultuous change. The story documents a historical legacy of government neglect, and suppression of bilingual education and how the language and culture of the Yan-nhangu came to be in a precarious position.

One of Baymarrwangga’s greatest achievements is the Yan-nhangu dictionary. The dictionary’s main aim is to preserve Yan-nhangu language and local knowledge from the potentially damaging consequences of rapid global change.

Through the words of the Big Boss herself and members of her community, we learn about the unique lifestyle of the Yan-nhangu people.

Classification Exempt: Ronin Films recommends GENERAL EXHIBITION

Running time: 25 mins

ATOM has also produced a study guide for Big Boss. This study guide is available for download here.

Big Boss is also available to purchase on DVD here.