Seeking to escape the white-centric life he no longer wants in Adelaide, Derik returns to Aputula, his ancestral homeland in Australia’s arid yet spiritually rich interior. Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black) frames this homecoming not merely as a physical journey, but as a process of cultural rebirth and personal healing. As Lynch retraces the steps of his childhood, he takes part in the sacred Inma ceremony—an embodiment of ancestral wisdom—and confronts past traumas while reclaiming and honoring his identity. Through striking visual storytelling, embodied movement, and rituals of healing, the film tenderly captures a queer’s profound connection to belonging, resilience, and cultural heritage.
