IMDb 7.1 1980 HD

Manganinnie

Manganinnie

1980
Drama
90 min NR Australia
6.333 / 10
7.1 IMDB

Through lyrical images, Manganinnie journeys across mountains towards the coast with Joanna, a white girl, in search of Manganinnie's vanished tribe. The poignancy of this film derives from…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director John Honey / Robert Hynard
Starring
Mawuyul Yanthalawuy / Anna Ralph / Phillip Hinton / Buruminy Dhamarrandji / Reg Evans / Jonathan Elliot / Timothy Latham / Bill McCluskey

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

poignant tragic moving evocative historical somber powerful reflective heartbreaking essential sensitive melancholic

Reviews

C
Chloe Peterson
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that deserves to be seen. 'Manganinnie' is a sensitive and profoundly moving portrayal of loss and the enduring spirit of an Aboriginal woman. Mawuyul Yanthalawuy's performance is nothing short of extraordinary, conveying a universe…

S
Samuel Davies
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'Manganinnie' offers a stark and moving exploration of a dark chapter in Australian history. The film’s narrative centres on an Aboriginal woman’s search for her vanished tribe, a journey fraught with the dawning horror of their loss. Mawuyul…

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 23, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A truly heart-wrenching cinematic experience, 'Manganinnie' is a testament to the enduring power of Indigenous storytelling. Mawuyul Yanthalawuy commands the screen with a performance of remarkable depth and vulnerability, embodying the profound grief of a woman searching for…

D
David Chen
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1980 drama, 'Manganinnie,' tackles the grim reality of the Black Drive of 1830 with a delicate, almost melancholic touch. The film follows Manganinnie and a young white girl, Joanna, on a quest that tragically leads to the…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Manganinnie is a film that lingers long after the credits roll. Mawuyul Yanthalawuy delivers a performance of quiet, immense power as the titular Aboriginal woman, her journey across Tasmania a visual poem of loss and remembrance. The director,…

FAQs

'Manganinnie' serves as a vital cinematic document of a deeply tragic chapter in Australian history. Its lasting impact lies in its sensitive portrayal of Indigenous resilience and the profound sorrow of cultural loss. By bringing the story of the Black Drive to the screen, the film prompts reflection on the devastating consequences of colonisation and fosters empathy for the Aboriginal people whose lives and traditions were irrevocably altered, contributing to ongoing conversations about reconciliation and remembrance.