Cowboy and Maria in Town (1991)

Exploring individual responses to rapid social change, Cowboy and Maria in town follows the parallel lives of its two central characters. Cowboy and Maria have independently landed in Port Moresby, negotiating ways to survive urban life in a city ranked as one of the most dangerous in the world. Cowboy is an ex-raskol (urban bandit) and Maria an inhabitant of a squatter settlement. Unemployed and with a jail record, Cowboy has constructed an electric guitar out of scrap materials and plays on street corners. Maria lives an equally precarious existence, cultivating a seasonal garden in an urban settlement inflamed by frustration and intertribal conflicts. Far from being third world victims, they go about their daily lives with humour and imagination, rising to the challenge of enormous cultural upheaval.

Director: Annie Stiven, Les McLaren
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 59 min
Release Date:
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

ethnographical

More Films by Director: Annie Stiven, Les McLaren
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cowboy and Maria in Town about?
Exploring individual responses to rapid social change, Cowboy and Maria in town follows the parallel lives of its two central characters. Cowboy and Maria have independently landed in Port Moresby, negotiating ways to survive urban life in a city ranked as one of the most dangerous in the world. Cowboy is an ex-raskol (urban bandit) and Maria an inhabitant of a squatter settlement. Unemployed and with a jail record, Cowboy has constructed an electric guitar out of scrap materials and plays on street corners. Maria lives an equally precarious existence, cultivating a seasonal garden in an urban settlement inflamed by frustration and intertribal conflicts. Far from being third world victims, they go about their daily lives with humour and imagination, rising to the challenge of enormous cultural upheaval.
Who directed Cowboy and Maria in Town?
Cowboy and Maria in Town was directed by Annie Stiven, Les McLaren.
How long is Cowboy and Maria in Town?
Cowboy and Maria in Town has a runtime of 59m (59 minutes).
What genre is Cowboy and Maria in Town?
Cowboy and Maria in Town is a Documentary film.