They're a Weird Mob (1966)

[makeshyft]

I mentioned this film in the last movie watched thread, but the more I think about it the more I like its purpose. The fish out of water narrative is a really effective way of approaching the sometimes strange nature of the language and customs of a particular country. Borat is an example of this in action today, but the idea has been around almost as long as film itself, and there's no better way to examine your own society than through the eyes of someone who isn't accustomed to it.

 

This film deals with an Italian writer named Nino, who moves to Australia to work for his cousin's newspaper. When he arrives, he discovers that the paper has folded and his cousin has fled to Canada, leaving Nino in debt to a young woman who paid his fare over. He decides to find a menial job in order to pay off his debt, and finds himself falling in love with the country and its people. It's a cool story, and a wonderful snapshot into 1960s Australia. This is pre-globalisation, so the language hadn't become too Americanised.

 

 

 

If you can find a copy online, I'd recommend it. If not for a good example of ethnographic fiction, then just because it's an oft-funny film. The main character is very endearing, and the way the locals accept him as one of their own is heartwarming.

 

Also, the other reason I decided to create a topic, if you have examples of this type of film which deals with your own country, please let me know. I wouldn't mind doing some research into ethnographic fiction in its various forms across the globe.

 

Edit: One thing I really like about the clip posted is it not only shows the divide between Australian culture and the rest of the world, but the Graham Kennedy sequence also shows the divide between people from different Australian states and capital cities, much to Nino's confusion.

Edited August 5, 2010 by makeshyft

[Tyler]

Sounds interesting actually. I would like to find films on foreigners that come to 19th century America from Europe looking for freedom, and finding the distinct livelihood of the South. Of course it could work both ways, with an American going to, say - Australia.

 

If I come across this film in my local video store I shall rent it. Until then do you know of any besides this and Borat?

[makeshyft]

Of course it could work both ways, with an American going to, say - Australia.

Isn't that basically Crocodile Dundee?

 

I'm sure there are heaps of films similar, which is why I posed the question. I'd quite like to write a paper on the idea of analysing your own culture by placing an outsider directly into it and acting as a surrogate for the viewer. I suppose that Coming to America is a goofy version of what I'm talking about.

[Tyler]

Well that was the first idea that came to mind, since I have been thinking alot about 19th century America lately. I suppose I didn't give enough thought into something else. I am surprised that the first two images into our mind about this happening in America is Borat and -

 

 

But what can you do? Since you sparked my interest I am going to look for a film genuinely portraying Americans in a way that doesn't end up being a comedy.

 

 

I'd quite like to write a paper on the idea of analysing your own culture by placing an outsider directly into it and acting as a surrogate for the viewer.

 

So off topic are you a reporter, or do you just want to write this for someone specifically?

[makeshyft]

So off topic are you a reporter, or do you just want to write this for someone specifically?

Well, I did study journalism when I was younger but am currently back at university finishing a film degree. At some point this year I will have to submit a paper on Australian film, and I'd like to compare 'Mob' to other films like it.

[Tyler]

Oh, that is very awesome man. Film school is pretty hard from what I hear, personally I suck at being a director, but I studied photography when I went to collage for the year and a half that I did.

 

 

 

As far as the film goes, were you looking for ethnographic films specifically or was the actual comparison going to have to be about Australia only?

[makeshyft]

No no, it doesn't have to relate to Australia at all. I'm interested more in the importance of ethnographic fiction as a concept.

[Tyler]

Ah I see then. Well as I was searching around I found a couple of sites going against the idea, so if you are doing a comparison then you could argue with This right here.

 

Also, take this with a grain of salt, but here is a list of all ethnofiction films prior to 2007.

 

Here it is.

 

 

[makeshyft]

Thanks, man, but the list you provided deals with ethnofiction in a general sense, and not the fish out of water concept that I'm shooting for. The goal here is to look at films that examine a culture by placing an outsider into it. Not to document the culture itself, which is what true ethnography is.

 

This is, like... I don't know. Pseudo-ethnography.

[Tyler]

Ah, I see, I couldn't tell by the movie titles. Well, I am looking on Imdb at the reccomendations for people who like 'They're a Weird Mob' and I am seeing romances. If I get an actual ethnographic film like what you mean, then I will link it.

 

Oh, just to be sure do you mind if it is fictitious? Or would you prefer a biography of sorts?

[makeshyft]

Fiction is what I'm after. There's an abundance of ethnographic documentaries, but they don't count. So, we have films like Coming to America and Crocodile Dundee at the moment. That's the sort of film I'm talking about.

[Tyler]

Alright, well in that case I got a couple off Imdb - Keep in mind these first films are more or less different from the film you need. The reason why is because instead of an individual going somehwere foreign and documenting their experience and their thoughts on the country, these films show the effects happening around the world, and how those effects change the lives of these individuals in their own towns. I believe you could use them, and of course they are fictional, but tell me if you like them any way.

 

 

This one is more direct to AIDS and such, but it shows women from Botswana and how other countries judge them. A little too 'liberal' for me but

 

Miss HIV (Imdb)

 

 

Miss HIV explores the international collision of HIV/AIDS policies while following the journey of two HIV-positive women who enter the contest in Botswana. Filmed across Africa and at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto this explosive ethnographic film shares both sides of an ideology struggle. What is happening in Botswana, where half of all pregnant women have HIV, is set against Uganda which has experienced the largest reductions of new infections ever recorded. 

 

 

Little Town of Bethlehem (Imdb)

 

 

"Little Town of Bethlehem" shares the gripping story of three men, born into violence, willing to risk everything to bring an end to violence in their lifetime. A Christian, a Muslim, and a Jew-shaped by events of their Palestinian and Israeli upbringing-find inspiration in the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Sami, Ahmad, and Yonatan believe that violence can indeed be stopped but recognize their own struggles will remain.

 

Hard as hell to find this exact sort of film, here is a list of 'ethnographic titles' off Imdb. I am not sure if any of those actually contain what you're looking for, but if one of them does, or you need anything else go ahead and tell me.

 

 

[makeshyft]

I really appreciate your effort, but those are documentaries, which don't really apply to what I'm looking to research. This might give you a bit of an idea: fish out of water.

[Tyler]

There we go, I could not think of the damn category! I kept looking for 'Ethno-fictitious pseudo-documentary' . Alright thank you man, now I can actually look for something.

 

EDIT: every single high rated tale is Australian, freaking weird. But here is one about city boys gettin' lost in 'the outback'. Not exactly sure what a city boy in Australia is, but I imagine it is someone living in Sydney.

 

Walkabout

 

 

By the way, that website is full of what type of movie you are looking for, but there is a lot of 'alien crashed on earth' themes too.

Edited August 5, 2010 by Unoriginal44

[makeshyft]

Not exactly sure what a city boy in Australia is, but I imagine it is someone living in Sydney.

Haha... there are many more cities than Sydney. We might have a small population, but the place is about the same size as the United States.

[Tyler]

Not exactly sure what a city boy in Australia is, but I imagine it is someone living in Sydney.

Haha... there are many more cities than Sydney. We might have a small population, but the place is about the same size as the United States.

 

I just figured alot of your 'city folk' lived either in or around Sydney or Melbourne or even Brisbane.