Ronin Films

12/12/2024

THE LANGUAGE OF LIGHT - NOW AVAILABLE FROM RONIN FILMS - a collection of seven intimate portraits (each 25 mins) of seven ground-breaking Australian photographers:

Ponch Hawkes
John Street
Jacqueline Mitelman
Meredith O’Shea
Ricky Maynard
Emmanuel Santos
Ashley Gilbertson

Produced and directed by Fiona Cochrane.

AVAILABLE AS A DVD OR AS DIGITAL FILES for home, education and screenings. For details and orders see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18844.html

07/11/2024

ANGELS OF WAR (restored from original film negs) explores the experiences of the people of Papua New Guinea during the Pacific War of the early 1940s. Produced and directed by Andrew Pike in collaboration with historians Gavan Daws, the late Hank Nelson, and the late PNG historian, Dr John Waiko.

WINNER - Best Documentary, 1982 Australian Film Institute [AFI] Awards. WINNER - Best Documentary, 1982 Nyon Film Festival, Switzerland. WINNER – Best Documentary, 1982 ATOM Awards (Social Sciences).

AVAILABLE ON DVD and as a digital file for home, education and screenings. See Ronin website for details: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/720.html

31/10/2024

ATTENTION CANBERRANS! Ronin is proud to be a supporter of Canberra International Film Festival! Don't miss THE COOLBAROO CLUB on the Big Screen at the NFSA's Arc Cinema!

Canberra International Film Festival presents a Special Event Screening of the newly restored Australian classic THE COOLBAROO CLUB (1996), at the National Film and Sound Archive’s Arc Cinema in Acton on Saturday 30 November at 2.30. TICKETS ON SALE NOW: VISIT THE CIFF WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS: https://ciff.com.au/

With special guests at the screening – Penny Robins (producer) and Steve Kinnane (co-producer, co-writer and researcher).

Superbly restored from the original film negatives, by the NFSA RESTORES program of the NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE.

25/10/2024

The flood of Ronin classics on NITV continues: take three days in the coming week as an example: Wednesday 30 October - SONS OF NAMATJIRA (dir. Curtis Levy, 1975), FIVE SEASONS (dir. Steve McGregor, 2004), TOO MANY CAPTAIN COOKS (dir. Penelope McDonald, 1988), COLLUM CALLING CANBERRA (dir. David and Judith MacDougall, 1981); Thursday 31 October - TERRA NULLIUS (dir. Anne Pratten, 1992), THE LORE OF LOVE (dir. Beck Cole, 2005); Friday 1 November - HAROLD (dir. Steve Thomas, 1994), LITTLE TOWNS, BIG VOICES (dir. Fran Dobbie, 2016). Check the SBS/NITV Guide for times and catch-up streaming on SBS on Demand. Thank you NITV!! And all are still available on DVD from Ronin: https://www.roninfilms.com.au

25/10/2024

TWO HOMELANDS is AVAILABLE NOW from Ronin Films on DVD and on Vimeo-on-Demand. See Ronin website for details, links and orders: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/feature/18722/two-homelands.html
Fifty years after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Australian Greek Cypriots, aged 70 to 102, give emotional first-hand accounts of the cost of war and their migration to Australia. A superb documentary by Kay Pavlou.

17/10/2024

DEATH IN THE CITY – a brilliant feature documentary by Balaka Ghosh, and produced by Defrim Isai and Maxine Williamson. NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD and as digital file from Ronin Films, and on Vimeo-on-Demand. For information, orders and links, see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/847/0/18289.html
WINNER JURY PRIZE FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY at the Eurasian Bridge Yalta International Film Festival (Crimea, 7 to 11 October 2024). Jury Chair, Andrey Chertov (Bulgaria) said: "𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑚 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟'𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑠. … (It) 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛."

18/09/2024

From film-maker, Margot Nash, UNDERCURRENTS: MEDITATIONS ON POWER - a poetic essay film about the undercurrents of history playing out in the present - a 'song' for these dark times. ‘Dazzling’ (Adrian Martin, film critic). ‘Powerful, lyrical, and evocative’ (Larissa Behrendt, filmmaker & broadcaster). AVAILABLE NOW FROM RONIN FILMS ON DVD AND ON VIMEO ON DEMAND. For details, links and orders, see Ronin Films: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18720.html

09/09/2024

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! The award-winning documentary, THE LAST VIOLIN, screens on SBS on Sunday 15 September at 4.05pm. The film is a spell-binding portrait of Master violin maker, Charalambos Vatiliotis, known as Harry, who is 85 and still works from his home in suburban Sydney, making superb violins for classical musicians. A film by Carla Thackrah and Romano Crivici.

"An enchanting film... it's a love story: a love story about music, a love story about the violin, and it's a love story about this extraordinary instrument maker.” - Phillip Adams, Late Night Live, ABC Radio National.

AVAILABLE ON DVD from Ronin Films – for details and orders visit https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18420.html

17/08/2024

A gem from the Ronin Collection, still available! ELECTRIC SHADOWS – THE STORY OF A CINEMA (50 mins, 2008). This documentary tracks the history of this Canberra cinema, through both the good times and the tough times, and looks at the cinema’s emergence as something of an icon in the city’s cultural scene. AVAILABLE ON DVD AND VIMEO-ON-DEMAND – for orders and details see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/2897/0/2445.html
For 27 years, Electric Shadows ran as an independent "art house" cinema in Canberra. From its first screening in 1979 of the Monty Python documentary PLEASURE AT HER MAJESTY’S, to its last screening in 2006 of Almodovar’s VOLVER, Electric Shadows gained a strong community of followers for its quirky programming style and informal atmosphere.

17/08/2024

JOHN FARROW: HOLLYWOOD’S MAN IN THE SHADOWS is now available on DVD from Ronin Films. For information and orders see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18682.html
Part mystery, part biography, part film noir, thus feature documentary follows the stranger-than-fiction story of the Australian-born, Oscar-winning filmmaker, John Farrow (1904-1963).

One of Hollywood’s most enigmatic figures, Farrow was the director of some 50 films. He was also a sailor, a poet, a war hero, best-selling author, a religious scholar, a family man and a philanderer – a man who lived many lives.

Farrow left no memoirs, no interviews and no archival footage, and until now, has been an elusive shadow in the telling of film history.

This documentary is a riveting, meticulously researched and beautifully assembled achievement – a masterwork in its own right - by two Australian cinephiles, Frans Vandenburg and Claude Gonzalez.

View the brilliant trailer here: https://vimeo.com/724699035

The film was applauded by New York critic, Jonathan Rosenbaum, who ranked it in his top 10 films of the year. WINNER! BEST DOCUMENTARY (Biography), ATOM AWARDS. “An outstanding feature documentary… lovely, fascinating and brimming with insights”- Filmink. “A wonderful documentary.” - Jason di Rosso, ABC Radio National.

09/08/2024

PATOU: IN BLACK AND WHITE – internationally award-winning film about the life and music of Jamaican singer, Pat Powell (“Patou”), one of Australia’s most accomplished yet hidden vocal talents. A film by Fiona Cochrane. NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD and as a digital file for screenings and downloads. For information and orders, visit Ronin Films: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18686.html

19/06/2024

Our documentary, PUMPHEAD, is still going strong - now being accessed for streaming on Vimeo-on Demand in 14 countries, and selling DVDs in many countries as well. Feedback has been amazing, and the film continues to help new cardiac surgery patients, ex-patients, families and friends.

For more information see the Ronin Films website: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/845/40/13773.html

Photo is of Peter Gallagher, the first patient who volunteered to tell his story in the film, and who really kick-started the project.

Thanks to all those who participated - Jessica Caudwell, Peter Gallagher, Lisette Breukink in the Netherlands, Peter Lynskey, Kerri Cargill, Allan Coop, Graeme Sutton, the late Rosemary Mangiamele, and psychologists from the wonderful Australian Centre for Heart Health in Melbourne (Prof Alun Jackson, Dr Barbara Murphy and Dr Rosemary Higgins), and Pamela Cohen. And thanks to the film's production team - camerawoman Zhenshi Van Der Klooster, editor James Lane, sound designer Tim Duck, and musicians David Pereira, Chris Latham and Edward Neesom. It was a great, therapeutic experience to work with you all!

And heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed financially through the Documentary Foundation!

15/04/2024

JAPARTA is the documentary being produced about the life, work and legacy of the Japanese historian Minoru Hokari. Andrew Pike is co-directing with Prof Ann McGrath with whom he collaborated on the award-winning MESSAGE FROM MUNGO (2014). The film is now at rough cut stage so it’s on the home track. Please consider a tax-deductible donation through Documentary Australia. You can read about the film and make a donation here: https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/japarta/
You can also contact Andrew Pike through Ronin Films via our website: www.roninfilms.com.au
Every contribution helps.

14/04/2024

TUPAIA'S ENDEAVOUR, a film by Lala Rolls - order now on DVD, book a high res file for screenings, or view on Vimeo-on-Demand. For details see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18489.html

Visit www.roninfilms.com.au for more information

15/03/2024

TERRA NULLIUS – acclaimed short film by Anne Pratten, scheduled to screen on NITV on Monday 18 March at 9pm, and Tuesday 19 March at 11.30am. Superbly re-mastered from the original film negatives. ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD from Ronin Films: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/839/80/17400.html

“In evoking what an Aboriginal child goes through when disconnected from family and taken into foster-care, this film is ahead of its time in its treatment. … Profound and timeless.” – Margo Neale, historian and curator.

“Terra Nullius is a gem of Australian film history and culture, with a vision that it even more penetrating today, almost three decades on” – Adrian Martin, film critic.

21/02/2024

New release from Ronin Films - TUPAIA'S ENDEAVOUR - a first contact story told from a Pacific point of view. A film by Lala Rolls. NOW AVAILABLE FOR SCREENINGS AND ON DVD! For details see: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/858/0/18489.html

16/02/2024

VALE, TED (Edward) KERCHER, Chief Projectionist at Center Cinema in Bunda Street, Canberra City, from late 60s for several decades. Ted passed away on 3 February at the age of 92.

After working from the age of 15 as a projectionist at Hoyts, Goulburn, Ted made his way to Canberra's new independent cinema, Center Cinema. The first film he presented there was DOCTOR ZHIVAGO in 1966. In 2003, he came back out of retirement to assist in the projection of the same film for the closing night of the Cinema.

Some of us still talk about Ted as “the perfectionist projectionist”: he was unfailingly meticulous and careful, and kept the projection equipment in perfect condition. But he was much more than a projectionist: he was a Showman, a rare breed. Ted perfected the art of presenting films to the public in the most engaging and sensitive way that he could – manipulating curtains, auditorium lights, foot lights, pre-show music, exit music, and sound levels to the best possible effect, always differently planned (and manually operated) to suit the mood of each film.

I loved working with him for his showmanship, and I valued him as a friend through all the years that we worked together. I learnt a huge amount from him, things that I will always value and remember him for.

Sincere condolences to his wife, "Mac" (Berenice) who worked as Head Usherette when Ted was projectionist, and to their extended family.

02/02/2024

MESSAGE FROM MUNGO returns to NITV on Monday 5 February at 9.10pm. It’s the story of the often troubled interaction between archaeologists and Indigenous communities at Lake Mungo, one of the world’s richest archaeological sites. ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM RONIN FILMS: https://www.roninfilms.com.au/video/819/140/9901.html
WINNER! UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA MEDIA AWARD (for the Promotion of Indigenous Recognition). "This film tells accurately, the Mungo story – the most comprehensive and balanced version I have seen or heard.” - Dave Johnston, Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Archaeologists' Association.

“Particularly engaging … A dynamic essay that asks for the widest general attention. It brings together black and white, present and distant past, pastoralist and scientist, and radically different kinds of knowledge”. - Sylvia Lawson, The Inside Story.

"I thought the Mungo film was profound, radical and totally engaging. I just wish every Australian could see it." - Robert Macklin, author, filmmaker.

“This beautifully crafted film captures the nuances, complexities, and vital revelations of a real case that transformed an Indigenous community as much as a scientific discipline. I cannot recommend it highly enough.” – Dr Chip Colwell, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, USA.

Produced and directed by Andrew Pike and Ann McGrath
Associate Producer – Harriet Pike
Cinematography – Scott Wombey
Editor – James Lane
Music – Russell Wombey

With thanks to the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and Mutthi Mutthi peoples and their Elders’ Council.