In the mid-1930s, the Aboriginal people began to organise, and to fight the Aborigines Protection Board. Through old newsreels, archive film, photographs and interviews with Elders, the film weaves a moving account of a hidden history, the early struggle for Aboriginal land rights and self-determination. A meticulous study of how white Australians between the wars consistently broke up Aboriginal families to manufacture a black servant class. "A meticulous study of how white Australians between the wars consistently broke up Aboriginal families to manufacture a black servant class. Australia has produced few films of such quiet and ironic passion." - John Baxter, The Australian.