Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER 153 2. Indonesia Calling {Australia. 20 mins.) Theme. When, after the war, the Dutch were trying to reconquer Indonesia and suppress the Republic, the Australian waterfront workers struck to prevent the sailing of ships carrying soldiers and war material. The film tells the story of how this sttike, supported by seamen of many colours and nationalities, halted the Dutch effort .it a critical time and gave the Indonesians a breathing space. Comment. Made under conditions of considerable difficulty, this film has rough edges. As a record of international co-operation in a common cause, it is stimulating and exciting. 3. The People's Charter ( United \ations Organization. 20 mins. ) Theme. An account of the world needs that brought the United Nations Organization into existence. The film tells how the charter was signed, and appeals to ordinary people everywhere to make it work. Comment. Built up from library material in a March of Time style, the film has a disproportionate significance against the background of present international politics. If its message is laboured too long, the language, at least, is one that is understood in the cinemas. 4. Assassins d'Kau Douce {France. 20 mins.) Theme. Internecine warfare at the bottom of a pond. Comment. As a photographic record of the struggle for existence between the minute creatures, who live at the bottom of ponds, this film is a considerable achievement. Horrible to watch, the raucous jazz accompaniment seemed unnecessary. 5. Le Tempestaire (France. 22 mins.) Theme. A story of Breton life. Comment. A tedious anecdote, lit occasionally by beautiful shots of the rocky coast. 6. The Infantryman (Britain. 20 mins.) Theme. The place of the Infantryman in the British army. His duties and his importance to other arms of the force. Comment. One of a series made for the War Office, the film attempts to cover too much ground. For its intended audience it may have had some value; there was little for a Festival audience. 7. Chasing the Blues (Britain. 8 mins.) Theme. The importance of welfare in the cotton mills. Comment. A lively and amusing film which uses a mixture of cartoon actuality and superimposition to make its points. A pleasant change from objective documentary. Guild Theatre. Tuesday, 2.30 and 8 A programme predominantly about Scotland. One film from Sweden. I. Progress Report (Scotland. 10 mins.) Theme. Rehousing in Glasgow. Comment. Simple reportage — from the word go the film leaps ahead with facts and figures of temporary and permanent building in district after district. Housing statistics arc not usually very memorable; the film does little to make them more so. 2. Paddy's Milestone (Scotland. 34 mins.) Theme. The island of Ailsa Craig, whose rock provides the world's supply of curling stones. Comment. Beginning in pre-history, the film passes in succession from a study of life on Ailsa Craig to the cutting of its rock for curling stones; thence to the mainland, where they are finished, and ends with a study of the game of curling. This is interesting material, and some of the sequences are well made, but there is enough here for several films. The facetious and discursive commentary is irritating. 3. Caller Herrin (Scotland. 20 num.) Theme. Herring from sea to table. Modern methods for canning, curing and freezing which are providing a sound economic basis for the industry. Comment. It is difficult today to be original about trawling . wisely this film docs not attempt any novel approach. Telling a straightforward story, it docs a competent job. and, in the sequences on the preserving of herring, adds something to one's knowledge 4. Country Policeman (Scotland. 20 mins ■ ) Theme. The life of a country policeman in a rural district of Scotland. Comment. Apparently the policeman's lot here is a happy one. A pleasant solid film, with a touch here and there of humour but what opportunities are lost for a real human study. 5. North-Faisl Corner (Scotland. 20 mini I Them*. Life in the north-east corner ol Scotland. Comment* A fine study which moves gracefully from the trawlers on the coast to the mechanized farmers inland, pausing en route to look in on Aberdeen A sensitive film which achieves a genuine flavour ol the land and its people 6. The Glen is Ours (Scotland. 30 mins.) Theme I ocal Government. Shall the Glen be preserved for the people or sold for commercial exploitation I he votes decide. Comment This is a staged production, which alternately appals by its vulgarity and entettains by a display of genuine comedy. As fact, it is nonsense; as fiction, it is fun — and the message goes over Whether you like it or hate it, there is no doubt of its value for cinema audiences. The greatest weakness is the improbable acting of some of the characters. 7. Sunshine Over Snow (Sweden. 10 mins.) Theme. Life in the wilds of Lapland. Owls mice and bears. Small boy hunting birds is frightened by the bear. He runs home. Father hunts the bear with rifle and dog. Night falls. The bear attacks the dog. Dog and hunter go home leaving the bear lord of the land. Comment. A brilliant short film, sensitively observed, photographed, and put together. Picture and sound combine to give the magic of a fairy tale to a few tiny incidents in the life of a far distant people. An object lesson to film makers, this was one of the outstanding delights of the Festival. Guild Theatre. Wednesday, 2.30 and 8 Mainly Canadian films, with contributions from Poland, USA, Denmark and Switzerland 1. Fiddlc-Dcc-Dee 2. La Poulctte Grise 3. Cadet Rouselle (Canada. Each 7 mins.) These three colour productions by Norman McLaren were one of the surprises of the Festival. FiddleDeeDee is an experiment in the abstract; pattern, shapes, line and colour dance across the screen to the theme of'a lively tune, played upon a violin. A film which leaves you dazed, breathless and excited. La Poulelte Grise and Cadet Rouselle are cartoons illustrating popular French-Canadian folk songs. Most people are allergic to songs on the screen, hut these films open new fields; the quaint drawings are a delight to the eye and fit perfectly to the mood and the words of the songs. They make you sing too! 4. Accidents Don't Happen Nos. 3 and 4 (Canada. 10 mins.) Theme. Safety first in factories. How to avoid accidents by taking common-sense precautions. Comment. Using a comedy character who does everything wrong, these films are slick and fast moving. One may wonder whether sarcastic comedy is the best way of making people think, but at least they are genuinely funny. As such they will be remembered when a dozen films of serious exhortation would be forgotten. 5. Klee Wyck (Canada. 20 mins.) Theme. The life and work of the Canadian painter Emily Carr. Comment. An interesting but maddening film. Emily Carr is clearly an exciting painter. As an introduction to her work the film has great value; but the commentator oversells the story, and the continual close shots never allow a moment to reflect upon her work as a whole. Made in Kodachrome. 6. A Feeling o( Rejection (Canada. 23 mins.) Theme. Social maladjustment. The psychoneurotic causes behind the inability to make friends and enjoy social contacts. Comment. For its theme the film takes the story of a lonely girl, who develops symptoms of headache and lassitude in consequence of her inability to cope with her social environment. In flashback we see the story of her early life and the way in which her over-anxious mother dominates her natural reactions. Naturally the film over-simplifies the issues, but if films about psychiatry are to be made, this is one which will give food for thought to neurotics and parents alike. Less commentary would have been an advantage; there are some things which the audience should be left to discover for themselves through I purely visual technique. 7. Warsaw Suite (Poland. 30 mini ) Theme. Destruction and rebuilding in Poland. Comment. For this theme the Poles have chosen to use a pure impressionistic technique Here is ever) trick k( the early cinema — buildings from ever) engle, masks and smear filters, reflections in water, figures against the skv embodied hands and feet, all against a background Ol the three sections of a tyinp •' British audience, trained in a factual ippi romantic and arty But there arc vc-ct ions which arc genuinely moving, and it has the advantage, for i" "ici.civ audience. of relying on a purely visual technique. It is a measure of the skill of its composition that at the end one realizes that it carried not one word of commentary nor needed any 8. Boundary lines {USA. 10 ml Themt Ihc artificial barriers that divide man I ■"i r U c an. I DeO| i'le. ( ommenl I sing a wealth of device ;r cartoon' is an intelligent and imaginative attempt to illustrate the point that a line is only an idea' . it can be whal « make it. Simple and I Icarly the film move i point, ring the futility of barriers, building up its argument and its appeal for indie .dual, nan pcratton to the final consequence the destruction ol mankind itself through the a presentation of the person... 'ic world's r problems, it is entirely successful Technically superb, this is a brilliant and stimulating film. 9. People's Holiday ( Denmark 1 5 mil Theme. The facilities available for Danish workers to enjoy their holidays Comment. This, another in the scries of films dealing with the Danish social services, shows the contributory schemes for holiday arrangements on an individual or camp f . and the attempts being made to get a better mutual understanding between town and country by or. Jays for townsfolk on farms. Although rather wanderinc confused in places by attempting too much, the film sue ceeds in getting over a real picture of the people of Denmark and how they enjoy themselves. 10. Le Souverain (Switzerland. 20 mins.) Theme. The life of a small community in a Swiss \alle> Comment. This is a straightforward film which, i a few scenes from the life of farmer Lichlenberg's family and picturing them vividly, succeeds in giving a rounded picture of the life and spirit of the people in this Swiss valley. I he few scenes of a village council sett ling the question of whether it is in the interest of all for a road to go through the farmer's land is an object lesson in democracy, which goes over better than any fireworks or exhortations. And their sp irts are amusing; was golf after all not a Scottish invention'.' Guild Theatre. Thursday, 2.30 and 8 Films from Britain, India, Australia, USA, Switzerland and Palestine I. Here is the Gold Coast (Britain. 40 mins. I Theme. The economic, agricultural and administratis c problems of the Gold Coast and the way in which the I onial Government is trying to deal with them. Comment. This is a comprehensive survey of a littlc-kn, wncolony which holds the attention in spue of its length I he film gives an impression of objective analysis, which is strengthened by the absence of any sense of complacency and the use of a native-born commentator. 2 Bassein (India. 10 mins.) Theme. A day in the life of an Indian fisherman in a Christian-Indian community. Comment. A simple story attractively photographed. 3. School in the Mail Box {Australia. 20 mins.) Theme. The vast distances which separate mans Australian families from each other have led to the organization of a children's cotrespondence school, which leaches them by means of the post and the radio. Comment. A fascinating story, efficiently but unimaginatively treated. 4. The Blue Riband ( USA. 20 mku > Theme. The 4 H Agricultural C lubs. which give training and ads ice to young Ameiican farmers Comment. There is more than a hint here ol Hollywood Ihe theme is lest in a pompous story about the it lufferabli Williams family and their aim to win the Blue Riband prize at the local agncultuial show I veryone is happy and smug in an American paradise none the less, technically a competent job. J Loctrot {Switzerland. 13 mini.) Theme. The attractions of Lucerne and its musical festival ■u-nt. A travelogue whish tells sou almost nothing I the musical festival, all that > • ml to know about I ucc-mc and which would almost certainly den .ivinngit Adequately photographed but conluiingly constructed. 6 II, ., iv. in the IVv.rt ( /'...'. ••:.■•!, 17 mtll.) Ihrm. \ -.enirnt in , eded verting the desert of the Dead Sea into fertile land for settlement. men! It is ''ic that, in i lion, the Ic i el the nee. I I ments in Palestine But with such a them the treatment is not m to weaken the effect In vpitr 1 this i» an evvitmg and well made lilm.