Movies

Teach a Man to Fish

Synopsis

Grant Leigh Saunders is an Aboriginal filmmaker, writer and musician who has secretly always wanted to be a fisherman, just like his father and grandfather before him. This fishing yarn is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Manning River in central New South Wales.

Despite his promising artistic career, Grant is unsettled and feels there is something missing in his life. As a fair-skinned, middle-aged, Aboriginal man, with a Norwegian wife and two young “Koori-wegian” kids, Grant is struggling with his identity. Compounding this feeling is that Grant has been away from his home country of Taree for over twenty years.

When Grant's uncle Steve, his father’s main fishing partner, decides to quit fishing, Grant latches onto the opportunity to quit everything to go fishing with his father. On the eve of his Dad's retirement, he convinces him to pass on the family trade, and leaves his family in Newcastle through the working week to pursue his dream to be a fisherman in his home country on the beautiful Manning River of Taree. It is an opportunity for him to spend time with his father to hopefully salvage a relationship he spoiled sometime ago.

As Grant asks more questions of his father we learn that there is infinitely more to this father and son fishing trip than learning how to just catch fish. Throughout Grant’s journey, the push and pull between his life in Newcastle with his wife and kids and his reconnection with his family up north in Taree, leads Grant to make some big life-changing decisions.

A dramatic family history, fishing, politics, singing, laughter and tears, this fishing yarn has it all, told by some very colourful characters.

Trailer

Details

Video/DVD release date
February 2019
Awards
FINALIST, Australian Documentary Prize, Sydney Film Festival
Rating
PG - Parental guidance
Distributor
Ronin Films
Soundtrack
Kyle Burtland

Watch now or find a DVD/BlueRay copy

Powered by JustWatch

Browse a list of Aboriginal film suppliers and distributors

Other films by Grant Leigh Saunders

Go exploring!

Use the Aboriginal film timeline to discover films you never heard of.

Take the quiz: Are you an Aboriginal movie buff?

Cite this page

Korff, J 2019, Teach a Man to Fish, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/teach-a-man-to-fish>, retrieved 20 April 2024

Creative Spirits is a starting point for everyone to learn about Aboriginal culture. Please use primary sources for academic work.

Join thousands of Smart Owls who know more!