Chantelle Murray is a pioneering writer, director, and actress whose storytelling approach shifted after the birth of her children. Murray grew up in the Jarrinjin community in the Kimberley region, a few hours north of Broome. She has worked with notable figures such as Taika Waititi and Baz Luhrmann and has created a series of short films exploring the harsh experiences of Indigenous communities, including the Stolen Generations.
Read Also...:
Oscars 2025: Why are we so mesmerised by Succession, The Apprentice star Jeremy Strong's red carpet outfits?
03-04, 2025
Blood, guts and female rage: How The Substance cut through in Hollywood
03-04, 2025
The Last Journey sees a Swedish TV personality take his father on a reinvigorating road trip
03-04, 2025
National Library of Australia exhibition 'traces the birth of photojournalism in this country'
03-03, 2025“All my work before was quite heavy, and becoming a mother changes you as a person,” Murray explained. Her animated feature debut, "The Lost Tiger," which follows a brave little tiger on an adventure to find his people, was released in cinemas last week. While she says the film still carries "an underlying tone of generational trauma," revolving around the themes of stolen land and resources, it is ultimately a vibrant, lighthearted family adventure.
“I just wanted to bring some joy to myself and my kids, because that's how I operate in life.” Teo, voiced by Thomas Weatherall of "Heartbreak High," was raised by a kangaroo family from a young age, unaware of who he is or where he comes from. Murray explained that the thylacine, commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger, actually roamed throughout Australia, with the species' last habitat being confined to Tasmania. She said that this extinct carnivorous marsupial appears in "all the cave paintings in Arnhem Land and the Kimberley region."
“I really wanted to explore that feeling, for an animal to feel like they're the only one left...and that sense of loneliness.” Teo soon embarks on an epic quest to find his home and tribe, accompanied by the quirky, adventure-seeking Plato, voiced by Rhys Darby of "Our Flag Means Death." But hot on the heels of this unlikely duo is Quinella Quoll, voiced by Celeste Barber, who wants to strip Teo's home island of its natural resources and add them to her collection. Murray said to watch out for hidden details, such as Quinella's license plate being the postcode of the British Museum.
Teo's kangaroo foster parents are also in pursuit, with his father, Red, played by Jimi Bani, and mother, Kara, played by Nakkiah Lui, both deeply concerned. For Murray, Teo's story of searching for his country was partly inspired by her late father, a white man who fell in love with her Aboriginal and Malaysian mother and community, at a time when interracial relationships and mixed-race children were "such a scandalous thing." Murray said her father was always searching for where he belonged. “The only place he ever found that was through learning about my people.”
“I think it's not just an Indigenous thing about finding home. It's a universal [experience] for everyone, trying to find their place in the world and where they belong, finding their tribe.” Murray's upbringing in Broome and the Kimberley region is evident throughout the film: the red dirt, towering cliffs, and shimmering turquoise ocean color Teo's world. The director's first job at 14 was at the iconic Sun Pictures outdoor cinema, which is now screening "The Lost Tiger." She couldn't attend, but her mother will be going to the town for the screenings.
Strong women appear in various forms throughout the film—Teo's kangaroo mother in the film is incredibly strong: "Obviously, [she] is who I aspire to be," Murray joked. Murray said she drew inspiration from her own experiences, being raised by her grandmother, who "held the community together," and her primary school teacher mother, who "always took in kids that needed help." “It's reflective of my life and the women around me.”
Having family around has always been important to Murray, but especially so during the recent Voice to Parliament debate and result. “When the vote came back, I was heartbroken because I have Aboriginal kids,” she said. “I rang my mum, and I said, ‘How do we deal with this?’” She recalled her mother's tearful response, saying the only way to cope is to remember "what we can control is [ourselves] and the people around us, and to choose kindness."
“Mum's not someone who's on the front lines of rallies,” Murray said. “But mum's someone who's on the front lines at the Aboriginal school, making every kid feel empowered.” Chantelle's own contribution is through storytelling, and she included similar lines in the film. “You can't stop bad things from happening, you can trust that you're strong enough to endure them,” Teo and young audiences are told. “What you can control is how you respond.”
"The Lost Tiger" is in cinemas now.
