Michael Rubbo

Directing·Dec 31, 1938·Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Michael Rubbo is an Australian documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, and director known for his innovative and personal approach to nonfiction storytelling. A longtime contributor to the National Film Board of Canada, Rubbo crafted documentaries that blended observation with subjective narration, often inserting himself into the narrative—a style that influenced later generations of documentary filmmakers. His notable works include Sad Song of Yellow Skin (1970), which explored the impact of the Vietnam War on civilians, and Waiting for Fidel (1974), a unique take on political documentary. Beyond documentaries, Rubbo also directed children’s films such as The Peanut Butter Solution (1985) and later pursued a career as an author and painter, continuing his creative exploration across different mediums.

Film	Credit
MMurder on the Shanghai2012 · Director	Director
Much Ado About Something2001 · Himself, Director	Himself, Director
The Return of Tommy Tricker1994 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Vincent and Me1990 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller1988 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Courage to Change1986 · Producer	Producer
The Peanut Butter Solution1985 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Atwood and Family1985 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
Margaret Atwood: Once in August1984 · Himself, Director	Himself, Director
Daisy: The Story of a Facelift1982 · Director	Director
Unfinished Diary1982 · The husband	The husband
RRiver (Planet Earth)1977 · Writer	Writer
Waiting for Fidel1975 · Self, Producer, Director	Self, Producer, Director
BBate's Car: Sweet as a Nut1974 · Producer	Producer
Cold Pizza1972 · Producer	Producer
OOK ... Camera1972 · Director	Director
Wet Earth and Warm People1971 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
PPersistent and Finagling1971 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
Sad Song of Yellow Skin1970 · Narrator, Director	Narrator, Director
Adventures1968 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
SSir! Sir!1968 · Director	Director
TThat Mouse1967 · Director, Screenplay	Director, Screenplay
TThe Bear and the Mouse1966 · Writer	Writer
LLog HouseDirector	Director
II Am an Old TreeProducer, Director, Writer	Producer, Director, Writer