Directed by Wayne Blair
A Study Guide to the Film - Sample
1. What are your dreams? If you could pursue any career, what would it be?
2. What types of things stop people from realising their dreams? What can assist a person to achieve their dreams?
3. The blurb tells us characters ‘grow as women’. What causes people to grow and to change? Think about what you were interested in 5 years ago when you were at primary school. How have you changed since then? Why have you changed?
4. What words or images come to mind when you think of the 1960s? What do you know about this time period? What was life like in the 1960s?
Opening Scene – 1958
• What sounds do we hear at the start of the film?
We see two girls running through the field. We later learn this is Gail and Kay. An older woman is sewing and fixing shoes.
The Songbirds put on a concert for their friends and family.
• How do you think the people in the crowd are feeling as they listen to the songbirds? How can you tell?
There is a cut to footage of a helicopter, JFK, Aboriginal activists, Lionel Rose and Mohammed Ali.
• What do you think is the purpose of showing us these images?
Ten Years Later – 1968
• How do we know that music is an important part of the lives of these families?
There is going to be a singing competition in town. Julie is not allowed to attend because she is too young.
• How do you think Julie is feeling at this point?
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