Top End Wedding

Mover over Mick Dundee – the Top End has a new image.

By Tamara Howie

Top End Wedding hits the silver screen this month. Co-writer and star, Larrakia/Tiwi woman Miranda Tapsell, says it was important to really capture the Territory for its true nature to break the stereotypes formed by films like Crocodile Dundee.

“There’s a selflessness to the Territory. I feel like I grew up with people living out of each other’s pockets, and everyone was willing to give a helping hand to each other. I wanted to capture that about the Territory in the film because sometimes that gets lost in a lot of stories. 

"Selfishness is celebrated in a lot of things, and I think it’s kind of nice to remind people that being selfish doesn’t build communities.”

The romantic comedy follows Lauren (Tapsell) and Ned (Gwylim Lee) as they head up north to Darwin from Adelaide for a quick hitch, but soon find themselves in the midst of a family drama.

Before jumping on a flight from England for the role, Lee spent time researching the set locations and more about Aboriginal culture.

“Seeing Katherine, Kakadu and Tiwi on a small computer screen doesn’t really do it justice, so you kind of have to be here to believe it,” he says.

“I thought it was really important before coming out that I’d try and school myself a little bit in Aboriginal culture and in the relationship between Aboriginal people. 

“In modern Australia it’s quite a dark history, and an angry history at times. But what I loved about this script, is that it’s a film that celebrates the positive aspects of Aboriginal culture and the songs and language and traditions.”

Catch Top End Wedding across the Territory in all cinemas, including BCC Cinemas in Palmerston and Casuarina, Deckchair Cinema, and as part of the NT Travelling Film Festival program from May 2.