You & Me: Documentary

Prue Adams, Aunty Carol Cooper, Virginia Field

"You & Me", the film, tells the story of a friendship between two women who grew up in the same Blue Mountains community but whose experience of life was very different.

Aunty Carol Cooper is a Darug and Gundungurra Elder, and a Traditional Owner of the Blue Mountains; Virginia Field is of Anglo-Celtic descent, and her family has lived in the Blue Mountains for four generations.

Basketball brought them together, and now, more than 40 years later, they are telling their story as a declaration of reconciliation, and as an invitation to others to share their stories.

“Basketball was something Carol and I were passionate about and it gave us a way to express ourselves,” Virginia said.

“Despite having different life experiences and cultural boundaries as kids, as we got to know each other there was a really strong sense of connection and respect between us and our families.

“Making the documentary wasn’t easy.

“But after the apology by Federal Parliament to the Stolen Generation we felt it was the right time to talk about our childhood and present a positive story of reconciliation — an expression of friendship being the bottom line.”

Aunty Carol said “maybe through this film other people may feel they can talk about their own experiences and feel that now is the right time for that.”

Towards the end of the documentary, the pair planted a Wollemi Pine in the European-style garden of the Carrington Hotel, which holds special meaning for both of them.

One of Virginia’s ancestors purchased the site but didn’t like the area so he sold it in the 1870s before the hotel was built and moved to Blackheath.

Aunty Carol’s grandmother once worked as a washerwoman at the hotel, but at the time she was only allowed inside through the back door.

The filmmakers acknowledge and respect the Darug and Gundungurra peoples as the traditional custodians of the Blue Mountains NSW, where the film was made.

A special premiere screening of You and Me was held at 2.45pm for a 3pm start on Sunday, May 30 at The Edge Cinema.

http://www.youandmestories.org