A circus family’s hidden legacy unfolds as descendants reunite across continents, uncovering their Aboriginal ancestry, global stardom, and the extraordinary secrets they kept in order to survive. Through the Colleano family's remarkable home movies, never-before-seen footage, family interviews and archival recordings, their extraordinary story is brought to life.


The Colleano Heart
World Premiere.
Red Carpet.
Director
Runtime
85 Minutes
Country
Australia
Classification
Unclassified 15+
Before Hollywood, the circus was the world’s grandest stage, and the Colleano Family were some of the brightest stars. Embarking on a profound journey of self-discovery, The Colleano Heart follows the journey of descendants who reunite across continents to reveal the hidden secrets of their circus royalty family. As the Colleanos rise to international stardom, they also conceal their Aboriginal identity to keep their family together, joining many of those who form the little-talked-about ‘Hidden Generation’ of Aboriginal Australians. Through the Colleano family's remarkable home movies, never-before-seen footage, family interviews and archival recordings, their extraordinary story is brought to life.
Film Credits
Director
Pauline Clague
Year
2025
Country
Australia
Language
English
Type
Documentary & Feature
Program Strand
AFF Investment Fund
Producer
Bettina Dalton & Kate Pappas
Writer
Pauline Clague & Ljudan Michaelis-Thorpe
Cinematographer
Susan Lumsdon
Editor
Andrea Lang & Bonnie Fan
Music
Mi-kaisha Masella
Film Source
Wildbear Entertainment
Genre
Biographical, Family, First Nations & History