The Habits Of New Norcia

The phrase 'orphanage without orphans' is a poignant descriptor used in The Habits of New Norcia to highlight the paradox of the New Norcia Mission. Many of the children confined there were not actual orphans but were forcibly removed from their families. This description underscores the profound disruption and loss experienced by these children, who were placed in an institution that, while ostensibly caring for the parentless, was in fact a site of familial separation and confinement imposed by external authorities.

Given its subject matter, The Habits of New Norcia is best suited for audiences prepared for emotionally challenging content. It deals with themes of child separation, trauma, and historical injustice within the context of Australian history. While it offers vital insights into a suppressed aspect of the nation's past, particularly concerning the Stolen Generations, viewers should be aware of its critical and potentially upsetting nature. It is an important film for understanding a complex societal legacy.

Audiences should prepare for a deeply affecting and confronting viewing experience. The Habits of New Norcia is not an easy watch; it is a powerful documentary that uses personal testimony to challenge a carefully constructed historical narrative. The film's tone is one of earnest revelation, aiming to bring to light the silenced experiences of Aboriginal children who were victims of the mission. It is a call to acknowledge a difficult past that has been overshadowed by curated tourism.

The narrative strength of The Habits of New Norcia lies in the personal testimonies of former Western Australian Aboriginal child 'inmates.' These individuals recount their experiences of being separated from their families and subjected to confinement within the mission during the mid-20th century. While the film features actors such as Harry Taylor, Rita Pasqualini, Geoff Kelso, Geoff Gibbs, and Nicole Bartlett, the core emotional weight comes from the direct accounts of those who lived through the mission's practices.

The documentary directly confronts the glossy marketing of the New Norcia Monastery, which promotes it as a place of 'Spanish architecture,' 'European art treasures,' and 'monastic mystery.' By presenting the raw, personal accounts of individuals who were confined there as children, the film exposes the stark discrepancy between its advertised allure and the lived experiences of its Aboriginal victims. It highlights the deliberate omission of this painful history from the official narrative.

The film delves into the profound and often painful experiences of former Western Australian Aboriginal 'inmates' of the New Norcia Benedictine Mission. It contrasts their testimonies of separation from families and confinement during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s with the modern, sanitised portrayal of the New Norcia Monastery as a cultural tourist attraction. The documentary critically examines how this revised history deliberately omits the traumatic realities faced by the Aboriginal children.