Documentary News Letter (1947-1949)

164 DOCUMENTARY NEWS LETTER (Continued from previous page) Health for Denmark shows the organization of the Sick Club system, which through a contributory scheme enables its members to get free medical advice and, where necessary, hospital facilities. For the point of view of the patient the film introduces us to a typical Danish family, while the details of organization are seen through the eyes of the tradespeople, who, as directors of the sick club, are responsible for the management and running of the hospital and its allied services. In exposition this film is less satisfactory than the previous one. The simple story is inadequate to convey more than a superficial impression of the system as a whole, while the devices used to explain the lay-out of the hospital are clumsy and tend to slow up the action. But for its defects the film has compensating qualities. There are sly touches of wit and humour, which give the film a sense of reality all to rare in our native production. What British director in a hospital, for example, would introduce us to the kitchens, the bedpan and the laundry among the panoply of wards, X-ray rooms and operating theatres? And there will be few of us who do not recognize something of themselves in that incorrigible 'youngest' ! Denmark Grows Up, covering the social services available for babies and young children, ranges from the training of midwives, ante natal, maternity and post natal care in rural areas to the organization of nursery and junior schools in the towns. Children the world over are a joy to watch and the directors make the most of their opportunities, but with such a wide field to cover continuity is difficult. The result is a disjointed story in which the details remain less clearly in the mind than with others of the series. For overseas audiences at least, some restriction of scope would have been an advantage; nevertheless the total picture of social achievement which the film presents is impressive. As in the other two the quality of sincerity is striking, and the film again demonstrates the astonishing ability of Danish directors to bring their characters to life. For all who are concerned with social welfare, these films will provide a valuable introduction to Danish methods of dealing with their problems. Clearly Denmark has done much in her care for the helpless and needy which we in this country should do well to study. But for film makers, too, there is much of a technical interest. Some of the more serious minded will no doubt be irritated by a joy in film craft which in places is almost naive, but few will deny that these films have wit, humanity and a refreshing quality of enthusiasm which is sadly lacking in so many of our own films. And finally, whatever to British eyes may be the defects of construction and exposition the fact remains that these are films about real people. The postman, the cigar merchant, the taxi driver, his wife and family, the farm worker sitting by his wife in labour, the old lady who was a trapeze artist in her heyday — these, and many others too numerous to mention — these are old friends. We meet and know them. These films bring us close to the people of Denmark themselves, to their hopes, their fears and their problems, which are not very different from our own. This, when hatred and misunderstanding are again dividing the people of the world, and when economic restrictions are forcing us back to our island isolation, is important. Copies of the films may be obtained for private showings by application to the Danish Embassy. J he Cotton Board FILM LIBRARY of unused shots from recent Cotton films is, we believe, a model of what such libraries should be. We do not pretend that it is yet comprehensive, but it is continually growing, and, if the shot you want exists at all, it is easy for you to select it and to order it up. The library is operated by on behalf of the Cotton Board. Apply to Eric Pask, DATA, 26 D'Arblay St, Wl. Gerrard 3122 THE HORIZON FILM UNIT An Associate oj the Film Producers Guild Ltd Now in production with 'Social Healer' — a profile of a County Medical Officer of Health — for the C.O.I, and Foreign Office. THE HORIZON FILM UNIT (producer: max munden) GUILD HOUSE, UPPER ST. MARTIn's LANE, W.C.2