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Michael Rubbo

Michael Rubbo

Director · Born December 31, 1938 · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

IMDb

Biography

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.

Directed 13

2000s

  1. 2001

    Much Ado About Something

    Director

1990s

  1. 1994

    The Return of Tommy Tricker

    Director

  2. 1990

    Vincent and Me

    Director

1980s

  1. 1988

    Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller

    Director

  2. 1985

    The Peanut Butter Solution

    Director

  3. Atwood and Family

    Director

  4. 1984

    Margaret Atwood: Once in August

    Director

  5. 1982

    Daisy: The Story of a Facelift

    Director

  6. 1980

    Challenger: An Industrial Romance

    Co-Director

1970s

  1. 1975

    Waiting for Fidel

    Director

  2. 1971

    Wet Earth and Warm People

    Director

  3. 1970

    Sad Song of Yellow Skin

    Director

1960s

  1. 1968

    Adventures

    Director

Wrote 7

1990s

  1. 1994

    The Return of Tommy Tricker

    Writer

  2. 1990

    Vincent and Me

    Writer

1980s

  1. 1988

    Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller

    Writer

  2. 1985

    The Peanut Butter Solution

    Writer

  3. Atwood and Family

    Screenplay

1970s

  1. 1971

    Wet Earth and Warm People

    Writer

1960s

  1. 1968

    Adventures

    Writer

Produced 4

1980s

  1. 1986

    Courage to Change

    Producer

  2. 1980

    Challenger: An Industrial Romance

    Associate Producer

1970s

  1. 1975

    Waiting for Fidel

    Producer

  2. 1972

    Cold Pizza

    Producer

Edited 4

1970s

  1. 1975

    Waiting for Fidel

    Editor

  2. 1971

    Wet Earth and Warm People

    Editor

  3. 1970

    Sad Song of Yellow Skin

    Editor

1960s

  1. 1968

    Adventures

    Editor

Acted in 1

Created 1

1990s

  1. 1997

    Race Around the World

    Creator

Appearances4

2000s

  1. 2001

    Much Ado About Something

    Himself

1980s

  1. 1984

    Margaret Atwood: Once in August

    Himself

1970s

  1. 1975

    Waiting for Fidel

    Self

  2. 1970

    Sad Song of Yellow Skin

    Narrator