Two Laws: Stands the test of time

Reviewer: Monica Peck
Rating (out of 5): ****½

Without a doubt one of the most significant documentaries of the last century, Two Laws addresses – and challenges – the power paradigms of Western Culture and mainstream film, its 'highest art'. By its very nature, this film is truly revolutionary. Clearly displaying the destructive machines of contemporary colonialism in action: so-called welfare, land-grabbing, racism, governments ruling people against their will, etc., the heart of the film lies in the essential concept that one culture's law cannot trump another's, and that in attempting to do so, the dominating culture commits a criminal act.

Aboriginal communities have never had or needed a 'boss' to rule over them – and yet lived harmoniously for centuries. This is not romanticism, this is fact. So, if governments are not necessary for these communities to survive and thrive, what are the Australian government laws doing to these communities?

Although filmmakers Carolyn Strachan and Alessandro Cavadini intentionally worked within the lineage of French anthropologist and filmmaker Jean Rouch, the pair broke new ground both formally and politically. Like a cross between Grey Gardens and Walkabout, Two Laws was co-directed by Strachan, Cavadini and approximately 500 members of the Boroloola community in Australia's Northern Territory.

"[The Boroloola community] challenged one of the basic tenets of documentary filmmaking: to find a charismatic character to tell the story. We were happy to let that go," Caroline Strachan explained in a January interview with The Independent.

Circuitously exploring issues of colonialism and disenfranchisement in Australia's Northern Territory from 1979 to 1981, this is a deeply unsettling film for conservative audiences, not only for its politics, but also for the consistently communal production/form of the film. Shot with a wide-angle lense that captures the landscape, as well as kinship ties and relationship structures – very significant aspects of aboriginal culture – Two Laws breaks down the engrained subject-object (viewer/storyteller) aesthetic needs of a mainstream audience. The fruit of this process is an entirely unique film-viewing experience.

So unique, it was said to be untranslatable to a smaller screen, which is why Strachan resisted rereleasing it sooner. Now that home theatre screens are larger, she feels the effects of the film's 16mm wide-angle format will be preserved.

With the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People signed just two years ago – though notably not signed by Australia or the United States – and in the wake of continuing human rights abuses in Australia's Northern Territory, such as the current federal administration ignoring the Nondiscrimination Act, Two Laws remains both politically and ethically relevant, as well as a tremendous filmic achievement.

Special features include a discussion of the film by NYU anthropology professor Fay Ginsburg, PhD, audio commentary by documentary scholars Bill Nichols and Jill Godmilow, as well as three featurettes: "The Handback on Centre Island," "Experiencing Two Laws," and "Bing Bong 25 Years Later."