Two Laws: DVD release film commentary

Abstract

This article is an edited transcript of an unrehearsed audio dialog between Professor Bill Nichols and filmmaker Jill Godmilow on the film, Two Laws. The dialogue provides the voice-over commentary on the DVD release of the film. It is suggested that the film might be seen as a gesture of decolonization and the authors draw upon the history of ethnographic and documentary film to identify the particular features and innovations which, they argue, the film achieves. The authors work through the films four sections, (Police Times, Welfare Times, The Struggle for Our Land, Living With Two Laws), providing commentary on particular shots, framing etc and concluding, in Nichols' words, that ‘the resolution to the film…is in the form of resolve…namely the peoples’ resolve to move forward and to fight to retain access and rights to their traditional lands.'