Michael Rubbo
1.3Directing

Michael Rubbo

Dec 31, 1938 - 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. 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.

Credits

Cast

Media
Movie2001Much Ado About SomethingHimself
Movie1970Sad Song of Yellow SkinNarrator
Movie1975Waiting for FidelSelf
Movie1984Margaret Atwood: Once in AugustHimself
Movie1982Unfinished DiaryThe husband

Crew

Media
Movie1988Tommy Tricker and the Stamp TravellerDirectorDirecting
Movie1985The Peanut Butter SolutionWriterWriting
Movie1985The Peanut Butter SolutionDirectorDirecting
Movie1994The Return of Tommy TrickerDirectorDirecting
Movie1990Vincent and meDirectorDirecting
Movie2001Much Ado About SomethingDirectorDirecting
Movie1988Tommy Tricker and the Stamp TravellerWriterWriting
Movie1986Courage to ChangeProducerProduction
Movie1972Cold PizzaProducerProduction
Movie1968AdventuresWriterWriting
Movie1968AdventuresDirectorDirecting
Movie1968AdventuresEditorEditing
Movie1967That MouseDirectorDirecting
Movie1967That MouseScreenplayWriting
Movie2012Murder on the ShanghaiDirectorDirecting
Movie1970Sad Song of Yellow SkinEditorEditing
Movie1975Waiting for FidelProducerProduction
Movie1975Waiting for FidelEditorEditing
Movie1997Maverick on a MobileExecutive ProducerProduction
Movie1980Challenger: An Industrial RomanceCo-DirectorDirecting
Movie1971Wet Earth and Warm PeopleEditorEditing
Movie1971Wet Earth and Warm PeopleWriterWriting
Movie1968Sir! Sir!DirectorDirecting
Movie1974Bate's Car: Sweet as a NutProducerProduction
MovieN/ALog HouseDirectorDirecting
Movie1972OK ... CameraDirectorDirecting
MovieN/AI Am an Old TreeProducerProduction
MovieN/AI Am an Old TreeDirectorDirecting
MovieN/AI Am an Old TreeEditorEditing
MovieN/AI Am an Old TreeWriterWriting
Movie1984Margaret Atwood: Once in AugustDirectorDirecting
Movie1971Persistent and FinaglingEditorEditing
Movie1971Persistent and FinaglingWriterWriting
Movie1971Persistent and FinaglingDirectorDirecting
Movie1980Challenger: An Industrial RomanceAssociate ProducerProduction
Movie1990Vincent and meWriterWriting
Movie1975Waiting for FidelDirectorDirecting
Movie1970Sad Song of Yellow SkinDirectorDirecting
Movie1982Daisy: The Story of a FaceliftDirectorDirecting
Movie1971Wet Earth and Warm PeopleDirectorDirecting
Movie1976Temiscaming, QuébecEditorEditing
Movie1994The Return of Tommy TrickerWriterWriting
TV Show1973Adieu AlouetteDirectorDirecting