The incremental change in opportunities for women and Indigenous Australian filmmakers continues to this day, helped by the emergence of internationally acclaimed directors such as Warwick Thornton (Samson And Delilah, 2009). In this earlier example, Aboriginal director Rachel Perkins’ emotionally powerful debut, three Aboriginal sisters gather for the funeral of their mother. Mae (Trisha Morton-Thomas), the eldest, had cared for her while middle sister Cressy (Rachel Maza), a successful opera singer, and youngest child Nona (Deborah Mailman) made their own ways in life. With each having different fathers, their complicated relationships to their mother and each other are confronted, with old bitternesses and resentments finally receiving airings. Radiance features outstanding performances from its three leads, and superb cinematography from Thornton.

Presented by the National Film and Sound Archive’s digital restoration program – NFSA Restores – reviving Australia’s cinema icons.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of the Australian Dreams season.