A Loading Docs Guide to the Looking Back to Go Forward Playlist
The “Looking Back to Go Forward” playlist on Loading Docs invites viewers to delve into histories, traditions, and legacies that shape our understanding of the future. Here’s a guide to the documentaries featured in one of our most eclectic playlists.
He Ōhākī – Imparting Words of Wisdom
Explore the enduring wisdom of John Rangihau, a Tūhoe leader, as shared by his daughter Kararaina. This film addresses institutional racism and the powerful legacy of cultural knowledge.
He Hekenga Tūhura
In his final interview, Sir Hector Busby, a revered master of waka carving and celestial navigation, reflects on his life’s work and the importance of passing on these ancient skills.
Soldiers Road
Soldiers Road Portraits uses photography to connect young Māori with their heritage, reframing their identities through a contemporary lens while honouring cultural traditions.
‘Aka’ōu: Tātatau in the Cook Islands
Follow an unlikely master of traditional Polynesian tattooing, Tātatau, as he endeavours to pass his craft to a new apprentice, ensuring the survival of this intricate art form.
Testimony
A Tongan-born New Zealander confronts the painful history of the Dawn Raids, revealing the impact on his family and the broader Pacific Islander community in New Zealand.
Waihorotiu
This documentary uncovers the hidden urban waterscape of Waihorotiu, revealing the complexities and layers beneath the city’s surface and connecting past environments with present urban life.
Please Open
The Crystal Palace, a cultural icon and cinematic relic, battles to remain open. ‘Please Open’ captures the community’s efforts to preserve this historic theatre against the odds.
Baba
Director Joel Kefali animates his grandfather’s vibrant stories, creating a bridge between memory and the present through love and nostalgia, capturing family history in a unique format.
The Colourist
Grace Rawson revisits the lost art of hand-tinted photography, a craft she mastered in the 1950s with Whites Aviation. This film celebrates her artistic journey and the beauty of this forgotten technique.
Each documentary offers a profound glimpse into the personal and cultural legacies that influence contemporary life. From preserving traditional arts to confronting historical injustices, this selection of Loading Docs illuminate the significance of looking to the past to understand and shape our future.
See Loading Docs: Season 10, out now.