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Our Generation

Our Generation is a 2010 Australian documentary film about Aboriginal Australians’ struggle to retain their land, culture, and freedom.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Our Generation is a 2010 Australian documentary film about Aboriginal Australians’ struggle to retain their land, culture, and freedom. It examines Indigenous relations in Australia, including colonial history, government policies of paternalism and assimilation, and the experiences of the Yolngu of northeast Arnhem Land.

Synopsis

The film presents a documentary account of Aboriginal Australians’ resistance to dispossession and cultural loss. It uses personal stories and community perspectives to examine present-day disadvantage and historical injustice.

Themes

Major themes include colonisation, assimilation, paternalism, racism, land rights, and cultural survival. The film also addresses the right of First Nations peoples to dignity and self-determination.

Production

Our Generation was directed by Sinem Saban and Damien Curtis and released in 2010. Available sources identify it as an Australian documentary produced in English.

Reception and use

The film has been presented as an advocacy documentary and was discussed in festival and activist contexts. Available sources also note awards or recognition in documentary-film settings.

Key facts

  • The film focuses on the struggle of Aboriginal Australians to preserve land, culture, and freedom.
  • It explores relations between Aboriginal Australians and European Australians from colonisation to the present.
  • The documentary discusses ongoing government policies of paternalism and forced assimilation.
  • It features the Yolngu people of northeast Arnhem Land as a central community.
  • The film is associated with Indigenous rights and human rights advocacy in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

What is Our Generation?
Our Generation is a 2010 Australian documentary film about Aboriginal Australians’ struggle for land, culture, and freedom.
Who directed Our Generation?
It was directed by Sinem Saban and Damien Curtis.
What is the film about?
It examines Indigenous relations in Australia, including colonisation, government assimilation policies, and the experiences of the Yolngu people.
Where is the film set?
The film focuses on Aboriginal communities in Australia, especially northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
What language is the film in?
The film is in English.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Generation_(film)
    Supports: Basic identification of the film as a 2010 Australian documentary and its subject matter.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/our_generation
    Supports: Genre, directors, producers, language, and synopsis.
  3. Culture Unplugged — https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/10422/our-generation
    Supports: Runtime, directors/producers, country, and documentary synopsis.
  4. YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElW6M0hU7jo
    Supports: Trailer description, directors, and thematic focus on Aboriginal rights.
  5. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/14/our-generation-indigenous-film-review
    Supports: Independent review describing the film as a documentary on Indigenous rights in Australia.