SYNOPSIS

GAGA WAKULDA explores the songlines of the East Coast whale migration in Australia, bringing back the stories and lore to the people and communities that live along this ancient route.

The whales act as an approachable and tangible medium to investigate the complex history of colonisation in Australia; in particular about what happened to the various First Nations languages here. It’s honest and authentic in sharing individuals first hand experiences, however it also presents a shared hope for a future where all can understand each other's history with respect and compassion, and heal as one. The film plays witness to the powerful impact that language revitalisation has on future generations.

This concept is not unique to Australia; many places across the world have been colonised with the forced removal of language and culture. This allows viewers from all over the planet to connect with these themes and experiences on a deep level.

DIRECTOR BIO

Tad Souden lives for connecting with people, sharing experiences and exploring this incredible world we live in through the lens of a camera.

Capturing all the different aspects of life allows him to express his feelings and emotions through his work. It creates a space to focus on the present moment, and explore the finer intricacies and broader connections that are in constant motion around us. The process of making a film requires total dedication and understanding of the characters and content, and it's a real privilege to be given access to these different worlds.

Tad takes great joy in connecting with others, and bringing their ideas into visual fruition as both a director and cinematographer.'

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

I was commissioned by Nicole Smede at Red Room Poetry to shadow their primary and secondary school program Baraya Barray (Sing Country), with the brief of documenting the program itself and the communities that we engaged with in 2025. RRP does incredible work, and having a long term relationship with this client allowed me total freedom to see what could emerge.

My approach was to be as open as possible in sitting with community, and seeing what narratives needed to be told. The importance of language revitalisation was the consistent thread that continued to reveal itself to me.

To be given an invitation to experience and explore the inner world of Australia’s First Nations people is an opportunity I’ll forever cherish. As a non-Indigenous person, the level of vulnerability and openness throughout this process continued to blow me away. I had the skills and ability to bring their stories into a contemporary form, so it felt like a perfect combination of important storytelling within the medium that is my specialty.

In the face of the past and Australia’s complex history, it’s a true testament to the resilience and unconditional love of Aboriginal People to reach out their hand to walk together. This is what Australia and the world needs more than anything right now - that level of forgiveness, trust and respect amongst our differences. What was being shown to me felt special and important enough to make sacrifices in order to give it my absolute all, and this film is the result of that.