The Last Daughter


The Last Daughter is a 2022 feature documentary film, directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt, and produced by Simon Williams and Brendon Skinner of Gravity Films.
The documentary first premiered on 30 October 2022 at the Adelaide Film Festival, followed by a public theatrical release in Australia on 15 June 2023. The film explores the experiences of Brenda Matthews, an Aboriginal Australian woman who was a member of the Stolen Generations. It talks about how she was displaced from her family as a child during a period where Aboriginal children were forcefully removed from their families and placed into white families.
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Production

The Last Daughter was produced by Gravity Films and was filmed in locations in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. The principal photography began on 28 February 2022 and concluded on 1 July 2022.

Cast

This documentary features interviews and accounts from:
  • Brenda Matthews
  • Mark Matthews
  • Brenda Simon
  • Mac Ockers
  • Connie Ockers

Release

The documentary made its debut on 30 October 2022 at the Adelaide Film Festival where it also received the Audience Award for Best Documentary.

Reception

"The Last Daughter" was met with positive reviews from critics. Luke Buckmaster from The Guardian said "The Last Daughter gracefully shows how old wounds can be healed and how distant memories can come back into colour and focus.".

Awards and nominations

Since its release, "The Last Daughter" has been nominated for and won awards, including: