Babakiueria

A brilliant 1986 satire of Australian colonialism!

[music].

Mom, Dad.
[music].

Look.
[music].

>> What the hell's that?

[music].

What do you call this place?

>> It's, it's a barbecue area.
>> BabaKiueria?

They call this BabaKiueria.
Nice native name, colorful, I like it.

[music].

When the first black settlers arrived in barbecue area,

they found a native
population sheltering around primitive

open fires, attempting to cook their food
with crude implements, and even seeming to

take pleasure in burning their meat.
I've always been fascinated by white

people.
The evidence of their culture is all

around us, their art, their industry,
their way of life.

But what do we think of white people?
Excuse me, sir.

What do you think about white people?
>> White people?

You gotta be joking.
>> How would I know?

I've never met one.
>> I love their music, they can't dance

unfortunately, but I love their music.
>> [crosstalk] Ten little whitey boys

standing in line, one got drunk
and[UNKNOWN] their line.

>> They're a developing people.
They're starting to take an interest in

the world around them and this is a good
sign.

Five years ago, I decided to find out more
about these strange and fascinating

people.
So I came here, to this white ghetto, and

I lived for six months with a typical
white family, in this typical white house.

Do you remember the day I first came to
stay with you?

>> Yes.
>> Yes.

>> Very good.
>> Yes.

>> And what did you think when you first
saw me?

>> Good.
>> Oh, very good.

>> [crosstalk] Yes.
>> A great honor.

>> I tried to fit in here, to live amongst
these people as one of the family, with a

minimum of disruption to their daily
lives.

I wanted to observe them as they really
are.

[music].
These are some of the first pictures I

took of the family.
The day starts with breakfast.

This is a busy time.
The family tell each other their dreams

and their hopes for the day ahead.
[music] Then the father bids farewell to

his loved ones as he leaves them for a day
of hard work with the man.

While the mother, happy with her role as
homemaker, stays behind to attend to all

the little things of family life.
The children spend their day at school,

learning about the ways of their people.
At the end of the day, the family comes

together for dinner to eat and to share
their experiences.

They were a happy people, always pleased
to have their picture taken[MUSIC] living

simple, uncomplicated lives.
A far cry from this image of white people,

the one we see so often in the streets of
our cities.

What brings these poor people to this
level?

Why do they drag themselves through the
sewers of our society?

I tried to find answers to these
questions, but sadly, everyone here

declined to be interviewed.
So I put this question to the minister.

Is it fair of us to expect white people to
improve?

Do they want to change?
>> Yes, and here in my department, we're

doing everything we can to help them.
We've created 32 new jobs in the last

year, we've built seven new houses.
>> But what if they're happy the way they

are?
>> It'd be morally wrong for us to leave

them like that.
We've gotta do everything we can to help

these people take their place in society.
>> And I think, most white people are

happy with what we're doing for them.
>> But has the government tried to find

out what white people want?
>> Why?

I mean, we're the government.
It's our job to make decisions about what

these people want and give it to them.
>> It's a waste of money.

We pour money into white people and what
happens?

They either wind up drunk or in jail, or
both.

Do white people think that the government
is doing a good job?

>> Oh, yes.
>> Very good.

>> They'll look after us, don't they kids?
>> But you said the other night, why can't

they put on TV shows with white people in
them?

>> [laugh] Yes, well, we say that but it
doesn't mean anything.

We're really happy.
>> Very happy.

>> Well, there you are.
Any television managers out there?

I'm not sure how practical it is.
But what about a few programs with white

people, white actors?
Maybe even some stories about white

people.
>> Wouldn't have to be all the time.

>> Let's take a closer look at white
society.

At what holds it together.
And the key to this question, the key

which unlocks the door to understanding
the jigsaw puzzle, the missing piece is

the family.
Because, despite all evidence to the

contrary, white family ties are very, very
strong.

Way up high in this building, somewhere
near the top, is a typical grandmother.

And there are many like her.
Her family brought her here because they

wanted her to be safe.
Up above the troubles of the world, in a

place so treasured and so sacred, hardly
anyone ever comes here.

The security here is strict.
Deliberately so, to discourage the casual

passerby from crawling in and interrupting
her daily routine.

Even this intercom is out of order.
Is this carelessness?

Laziness?
Or is it deliberate?

Another barrier in the way of a potential
nuisance.

What can you tell me about the customs of
your people?

How should I behave?
What should I do when I go in there and

see this old lady who only has up to half
a dozen visitors a year?

>> Well, you could talk to her for a bit.
She'd appreciate that.

>> Mrs.
Schmidt, a visitor.

>> Come in.
>> Would you like a sweet biscuit dear?

>> Yes, please.
Mrs.

Schmidt lives in a small flat,
surprisingly clean, not a speck of dust

anywhere and as you can see, surrounded by
souvenirs.

Mrs.
Schmidth, who are these people?

>> Well, this is my son and this is my
daughter-in-law.

These are my two grandchildren, and this
is my little dog.

I had to have her put to sleep before I
came here.

They don't allow dogs.
>> But you've still got the photos.

>> Oh, yes, they don't mind photos.
>> How far away does your family live now?

>> Oh, a long way, I think, I don't know.
It must be a long way, they're always

saying they'd like to see me more often,
but it's too far out of their way.

>> And yet, despite the distances that
separate them, the family is very close.

They never miss ringing her at Christmas,
on her birthday, and on Mother's Day.

>> Never miss.
>> And sometimes, they even ring up for no

particular reason at all[MUSIC].
>> Hello, mom.

Hello, dear, how are you?
No we're all fine.

Listen, here, have a chat with your little
boy.

>> Good day, mom.
>> Their austere design, the complete lack

of decoration or adornment gives no clue
to the huge sums of money which pass

through these doors every day.
As the followers of this religion exchange

their donations for these small prayer
tokens.

We can see some of the worshipers now as
they stand.

Heads bowed in deep reverence, while they
listen to the incantations broadcast over

the TV set, and study the details on their
prayer tokens.

>> And then, they pray.
They pray for success, for wealth, for

happiness.
And they believe that the future course of

their lives would be foretold by watching
some trained horses run around a large

circle.
Strange, isn't it?

But at the end of the broadcast, we saw
many people here tear up their tokens and

throw them away.
But if you thought this action indicated

their loss of faith in their religion,
you'd be wrong.

Many of these people will be back here
tomorrow to exchange new donations for new

prayer tokens.
What simple faith.

One of the important issues of today, it's
the 200 year celebration.

When we mark the 200th anniversary of our
discovery of white people in barbecue

area.
Some people are concerned that whites are

being left out, excluded from the plans
for this important occasion.

Do you feel left out?
>> Oh, I don't think so.

>> Left out of what?
>> The 200 year celebration.

>> Oh, oh, I don't think so.
>> And we didn't even know it was on.

>> But it's a celebration of everything
that your people and my people have

achieved together over the last 200 years.
>> It's a small party, is it?

>> There probably won't be room for us
then.

>> But, you go ahead and enjoy yourself.
>> No, this is nonsense.

We're all Babakiuerians.
This is for all of us.

And even if certain people aren't actually
in it, I can still see the whole thing on

TV.
We have two white people on one of our

boards of management, and as a result of
that, we are planning several events which

will involve the direct participation of
some whites and they have a rich culture.

And we would not want to be without their
contribution, but if they're not happy

with that, then there's absolutely nothing
to stop them from organizing their own

events.
I mean, we're more than happy for them to

celebrate this historic occasion amongst
themselves.

Look, they're always telling us they want
to manage their own affairs.

Now, isn't this the perfect opportunity to
show us what they can do.

This is the site of one of the 200 year
projects.

A project at the center of a controversy.
The idea is to turn this barren wasteland

into a carefully designed park.
>> We're going to bulldoze everything you

can see there and replace it with natural
bushland.

Something to show future generations what
it was like in this area 200 years ago.

We want to make it as beautiful as we can.
Tall tree, shrubs, small flowers,[UNKNOWN]

crops, and down in the valley, a little
stream.

>> Who could argue with that?
No one, you would think.

But there has been some opposition from
white protest groups, who say they want

the area to stay as it is.
It might look ugly to us, but they say

they like it.
And they claim a park on the site will

interrupt important trade routes.
It will also interfere with one of white

people's most cherished ambitions, to be
the most polluted society in the world.

>> A group of white protesters today
attempted to hoist a land rights flag over

this building.
>> Reports such as this one are becoming

more frequent.
Is this a sign of increasing militancy on

the part of whites?
>> The demonstrators were soon arrested

and their flag taken down.
But the demonstration which delayed the

start of a gala charity ball, marks an
upturn in white protest.

>> I think these are the actions of a
minority.

Most white people are peaceful and
law-abiding.

But there are always the unhappy few who
want to make trouble and give the rest a

bad name.
>> We can't let white people go around

breaking the law just because a few
bleeding hearts feel sorry for them.

What sort of society would that be?
>> What if white people feel that protests

and demonstrations are the only way they
can gain public attention?

>> They can put an advertisement in the
newspaper just like everyone else.

>> And if they can't afford it?
>> Well, they'll just have to save their

pennies.
They might even have to get off their

backsides and do a decent day's work for a
change.

>> Some people say white people are lazy.
>> Oh, no.

>> Oh, I don't think so.
>> What would you say to the idea that a

white person would rather spend the day
laying in the sun and around the swimming

pool, than doing a decent bit of hard work
in a factory?

>> No.
>> Definitely not.

>> No.
>> And if I can make this a bit more

personal?
If you had to choose between going out on

a carefree, lazy picnic on a beautiful
day, with a few good friends or stay at

home to clean out the gutters or paint the
house, what would you do?

>> Oh, stay at home.
>> Mm, definitely.

>> Although, a picnic might be tempting.
>> Oh, not if there's work to be done.

>> So perhaps we should revise some of our
ideas about white people.

Perhaps they're not lazy or unable or
unwilling to stick in a job after all.

The father in this family has been in the
same job for the last 12 years.

He works on the local council and says he
would come home every night with blisters

on his hands except for a strict union
rule not to do so.

He enjoys good health, and takes his 4
week sick leave every year to ensure that

he maintains that health.
Even the youngest in this family has been

out to work.
You've had a couple jobs, haven't you?

>> Yeah.
>> One of them was even with a black

family.
>> Yes, she was a dear little girl, very

good with the children.
They seem to have a natural affinity with

children, very nice.
It was only that little bit of trouble

with the 50 cents.
Oh, she turned on the tears, but in the

end, she had to go, because it doesn't
matter how nice they seem if you can't

trust them.
>> Are white people intelligent?

Well, according to recent studies they
are.

The problem seems to be their
inter-larity, the tendency to avoid mixing

with other races, to cling to their own
fairly narrow view of the world, to resist

change.
But in a bold experimental move, the

government is attempting a new direction.
[music].

>> I don't want to go.
>> Yes, you do.

>> It all seems a bit funny now.
But you'll get used to it.

>> No.
>> No, don't be silly.

Go with the nice lady.
They're going to give you a proper

education, much better than we can give
you.

>> Yes.
[inaudible] They'll treat you very like

black people.
Who knows where that'll end up?

>> Run away from them, sis, run, she
doesn't want to go.

>> We don't want to lose you, too.
>> Look, he's just excited you're going.

[music].
Now you remember us, won't you?

We'll remember you.
>> Bye, mom.

>> Parting with a loved one is never easy.
I said goodbye to my mother recently when

she went on holiday, so I know how they
feel.

But I asked them, do they see this as the
price of progress?

Do you?
>> Oh, yes.

>> For the best.
>> We didn't have any choice.

>> Not now.
What he means is well, the government did

make the decision, but we understand it's
all for the best, don't we?

>> Yes.
>> You have an opportunity now if you want

to say anything about this, anything you
say will be broadcast and seen by a lot of

black people.
>> No, no there's nothing we want to say.

>> Except that we're very happy.
>> Mm, happier than we've ever been,

aren't we?
He is, really.

>> And so, a happy ending.
But I wondered how the Minister would

react to criticism that some of the
policies we've adopted in relation to

white people, although, well-intentioned,
have been misguided and inappropriate 200

hundred years ago, maybe.
>> We've come a long way since then.

We've learned a lot.
I mean, would they rather we went away and

just left them alone?
And then, what sort of mess would they

make of it?
Some of these radical whiteys will only be

happy if we black people disappear off the
face of the earth forever.

And we're not about to do that, are we.
One of the principal barriers to

assimilation seems to be the natural
tendency of white people to violence.

They love violence.
They love it as entertainment.

And in regular outdoor spectacles such as
this one, the crowds flock to see a ritual

of violence.
No trace of it yet.

At this stage, everything is friendly and
the crowd is quiet, but not for long.

Two teams, as they're called, prepare to
do battle in front of a crowd made up of

tribes of supporters, each carrying the
colors and symbols of the totems.

[music] Suddenly, here's what they came
for.

This is the violence they were hoping to
see.

[music] And as the crowd rises to its
feet, excitement spills over.

And the ritual of violence is not enough.
The crowd wants blood.

Another event, this one apparently
peaceful, actually based on history of

bloody violence and this time not just a
few deaths, not even a few hundred deaths

or a few thousand deaths, but millions and
millions of deaths.

This one event, this ceremony embodies the
two most important principles of white

society, the very foundation of their way
of life, death, and sacrifice.

It's so important that these two
principles, that over the years, white

people with almost missionary zeal have
done their best to export[UNKNOWN]

sacrifice to every corner of the world.
That's what this event is all about.

>> They just crossed Market Street.
They're heading up your way now, over.

[music].
Now listen to this.

I'm only going to say it once.
Go to your homes.

This is an illegal assembly.
Anyone found here in 2 minutes time will

be arrested.
I repeat, this is an illegal assembly.

Hurry up now.
You have less than 2 minutes.

Come on, hurry up and move along, come on.
>> You made a decision to stop the march?

>> Yes.
>> And you also stopped us from filming

what happened next?
>> We were only moving your cameraman out

of the way and the likelihood of possible
violence.

>> But from my research, there never has
been any violence at these ceremonies.

>> However, there has been a lot of bad
behavior associated with these events, a

lot of drunkenness, a lot of offensive
language.

I see no reason why these people shouldn't
be free to make offering to the spirits of

their warrior ancestors if they want to.
It's obviously an important part of their

culture, but I do think these events could
be smaller.

And why can't they have these ceremonies
in their homes?

They could get drunk and swear their heads
off there if they want to.

Change catches up with us all, often when
we least expect it.

And for the white family, I'd got to know
so well, it was no exception.

>> You're moving?
>> Yes.

It's a bit of a surprise.
But there you are.

>> The government wants this land for,
it's something.

So they're moving us.
Well, they asked us to go and we said,

yes.
>> You stupid, bloody idiot.

>> Hey, hey, hey, settle, settle down.
>> You stupid old goon.

>> It'll be alright.
You'll be alright.

>> Is your boy not happy about the move?
>> It'll be alright.

>> What do you want?
>> I want you to calm down and stop making

trouble.
>> Why?

That's what you always say.
We're supposed to go around making goody

goodies and they still kick us in the
balls.

>> It'll be alright.
It'll be all right.

>> Well, maybe he just needs to cool down.
>> Have they told you where you're going?

>> We don't know exactly.
>> It'll be all right.

It'll be for the best.
>> They'll look after us.

>> It'll all be for the best in the end.
>> Come on.

They're waiting.
>> Well, what about the boy?

>> Don't worry.
We'll find him.

>> Paul.
>> Careful.

We'd better get go.
>> It was nice to meet you.

Best of luck with your TV show.
We'll try and watch it if we can.

>> Come on.
>> Goodbye and good luck.

[music].
This was a very emotional experience for

me, a real lump in the throat.
After many months of living with these

people, sharing their native food, the
humble dwelling, I felt I became one of

the family.
And as I watched them drive away I felt a

real sense of missing them, I'm sure they
felt that way about me.

Yes, it's part of an initiative training
scheme.

We believe many people benefit when
they're given a challenge.

Now this is an opportunity for these
people to find out a great deal about

themselves.
Start a new life.

Develop all kinds of skills and resources.
By golly, I wish someone had given me sort

of challenge when I was young.
[music].

And so, what of the future?
[music].

Do white people need to change their
attitude to us?

>> I'm optimistic or is the answer for us
to change our attitude to them?

>> > [unknown] white boys they know what
to do, one got drunk and then[ they're

two.
>> I think white people have the will and

the spirit to get themselves out of their
present difficulties.

>> Two little white boys playing with a
gun, one got drunk and then there was one.

>> White people would do to themselves a
great deal of good if they would just keep

themselves clean and neat, work hard, and
speak politely when spoken to.

>> One little white boy staring at the
sun, he got drunk and then there were

none.
>> And smile a bit.

That's all it takes.
You can do wonders with a smile.

[laugh].
>> Another outbreak of white protest

today.
A police spokesperson described the

demonstration as large, but declined to
give precise numbers.

Authorities say the situation is under
control.

[music].