Loading
Director
Michael Rubbo
- Born December 31, 1938 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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.
Read the full biography
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.
Known for
The Peanut Butter Solution1985
Tommy Tricker and the Stamp Traveller1988
Vincent and Me1990
Much Ado About Something2001
The Return of Tommy Tricker1994
Waiting for Fidel1975
Sad Song of Yellow Skin1970
Margaret Atwood: Once in August1984
Filmography
- TBALog HouseFilmDirector
- TBAI Am an Old TreeFilmDirector, Writer, Editor, Producer
- 2012Murder on the ShanghaiFilmDirector
- 2001Much Ado About SomethingFilmHimself, Director
- 1997Race Around the WorldSeriesCreator
- 1997Maverick on a MobileFilmExecutive Producer
- 1994The Return of Tommy TrickerFilmDirector, Writer
- 1990Vincent and MeFilmDirector, Writer
- 1988Tommy Tricker and the Stamp TravellerFilmDirector, Writer
- 1986Courage to ChangeFilmProducer
- 1985The Peanut Butter SolutionFilmDirector, Writer
- 1985Atwood and FamilyFilmDirector, Screenplay
- 1984Margaret Atwood: Once in AugustFilmHimself, Director
- 1982Unfinished DiaryFilmThe husband
- 1982Daisy: The Story of a FaceliftFilmDirector
- 1980Challenger: An Industrial RomanceFilmCo-Director, Associate Producer
- 1977River (Planet Earth)FilmWriter, Editor
- 1976Temiscaming, QuébecFilmEditor
- 1975Waiting for FidelFilmSelf, Editor, Producer, Director
- 1974Bate's Car: Sweet as a NutFilmProducer
- 1973Adieu AlouetteSeriesDirector
- 1972Cold PizzaFilmProducer
- 1971Wet Earth and Warm PeopleFilmWriter, Editor, Director
- 1971Persistent and FinaglingFilmDirector, Writer, Editor
- 1970Sad Song of Yellow SkinFilmNarrator, Editor, Director
- 1968AdventuresFilmDirector, Editor, Writer
- 1968Sir! Sir!FilmDirector
- 1967That MouseFilmDirector, Screenplay
- 1966The Bear and the MouseFilmWriter, Editor