Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra

Release Date: 5 November 2020

This movie is from our archive and is not currently screening.

Directors Wayne Blair and Nel Minchen interweave insightful and moving interviews with Bangarra dancers, including core trio Stephen, Russell and David Page, with vibrant home movie footage of the Page family growing up in Brisbane. Firestarter draws parallels between Bangarra’s story and the politics of Australia, charting cultural milestones such as the audience turning their back to Prime Minister John Howard, and the troupe’s potential boycott of the 2000 Olympic opening ceremony. This electric story is told with power and grace, celebrating the transformative potential of art and creating an insightful portrait of one of Australia’s pivotal arts organisations.