WHEN THE SNAKE BITES THE SUN is the third in a trilogy of films which presents a compelling account of the return by a group of dispossessed Aboriginal people to their ancient tribal grounds in the north of Australia. It follows on from the highly acclaimed and award-winning LALAI-DREAMTIME (an account of an old man's return to his ancestral land) and FLOATING (a heart-rending portrayal of Aboriginal culture's collision with the arrogance of white civilisation).
Filmmaker Michael Edols first met Sam Woolagoodja on a visit to the Mowanjum Aboriginal mission in Western Australia 14 years previously.
The spiritual custodian of his people's past, Woolagoodja was one of the few people there who still retained ancient knowledge. Many others were caught in the trap of alcohol abuse.
Edols kindled a deep and unusual friendship with Woolagoodja, accompanying him on a trip to his tribal homeland. They intended to return again but Woolagoodja died in Edols' arms just days before.
Prior to his passing, the old man had told his "white brother": "It is time for you to tell the story. My sons are too drunk, they are too much humbug."
WHEN THE SNAKE BITES THE SUN is this story. It is the story of a filmmaker returning with a group of Aboriginal people to a land where their near-obliterated traditions had their genesis. And it is a cause for hope that in a journey back to their Dreaming country, the Worora people remember and reaffirm their belonging to their mother country.
