Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

film may be more in the follow-up activities than in the immediate learnings. High school social studies classes shoiJd find many springboards for discussion. "What are the functions of governments?" "What are the distinctions between democracy, socialism and communism?" "Does Sweden offer a preview of the kind of society toward which certain other countries are moving?" "What conditions exj^lain the premium that the Swedish people place on security?" "Must the attainment of security be accompanied by 'middle class enslavement by conformity'?" "What are a nation's alternatives to being 'red or dead'?" — Ledford Carter Venezuela (McGraw-Hill Text-Films, 330 West 42nd Street, New York 36, New York.) Produced by Centron Corporation. 16 minutes, 16mm, sound, color and black and white, 1961. $190 and $95. Description Venezuela is one of seven films in the series "Our Latin American Neighbors." The theme which it develops is one of contrast between divergent standards of living of the wealthy and the poor and between geographical and climatic extremes, with scenes in the great altitudes of the Andes Mountains area on the one hand and in the tropical lowland on the other. The economic contrast is evident in the city of Caracas itself where impressive new architecture clashes in appearance with the extensive slum areas in the hills surrounding the city. Although the film emphasizes economic and geographical factors, its survey includes numerous aspects of Venezuelan life. Some insights into the lives of the professional people are afforded through the family of a Caracas architect. Identification is provided for junior high school pupils by the architect's son, who is about their age. Orientation to the nation's relative location on the continent of South America and to its major geographical features is provided by animated maps. Most of Venezuela's agriculture and industry thrives in the central highlands in which Caracas is located. The Llanos of the Orinoco is shown to be located in the central region of the nation. Cattle hides and beef are primary items of that region. The Guiana Highlands in the south comprise about one-half the area of Venezuela and are rich in iron ore. One source of contrast in the economy of Venezuela is to be found in the Maracaibo Lowland and in Lake Maracaibo itself. Since oil was discovered there in 1917, Venezuela has become the second largest oil producer in the world. The city of Maracaibo is a port for the region's oil and is the nation's second largest city. The major port in Venezuela is LaGuaira through which passes more than one million tons of airgo each year. Significant imports include wheat flour, chemicals, machinery, and automobiles. LaGuaira is oiJy a few miles from Caracas and the two cities are connected by a multi-lane superhighway. The Orinoco River is described as an important commercial route which carries, among many products, iron ore en route to steel mills in the United States. The viewer is returned to Caracas, where spring-like weather prevails throughout the year. Short scenes depict sports and recreational activity, architecture, religious tradition, occupations, national heritage, and night life in the capital. Comments and materials for review should be sent to Audio-Visiuil Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. The film closes optimistically with shots of low-cost housing units being built for farm families, new farm equipment being introduced, and apartment buildings under construction for factory workers. Appraisal Especially at the junior high level, this film would serve excellently as an introduction or summary to the geography or history of Northern South America. A siu-vey type film, it devotes little time to any one part of Venezuelan culture but it does bring out well the theme of contrast, candidly presenting economic and social problems as well as the accomplishments and prosperity of the country. Venezuela is generally a good technical production. The color is satisfactory, usually contributing to the visual message. The background music seems very well selected and adapted to both the subject and the medium. The burden of the commentary is necessarily heavy because of the nature of the film, but it does not appear excessive. The narration is wellsynchronized with the visualization and is reinforced at points with subtitles. As a minor adverse criticism. the subtitle technique might have been enhanced in effectiveness if it had been utilized more frequently and the words retained on the screen for a longer time. —James Pigg Time Of Wonder (Weston Woods Studios, Weston, Connecticut) 14 minutes, 16mm, sound, color, 1 961 . Ba.wd on the book hij Robert McCloskey. Teacher's guide available. Description Time of Wonder tells the story of a family's summer on an island off the Maine coast, using pictures from the book of the same title by Robert McCloskey to provide the illustrative material. This production represents one of the latest additions to Weston Woods Studios' filmic treatment of prizewinning children's books. The story begins with clouds rising and turning dark over Penobscott Bay— an indication that rain is moving in. As the rain comes down children delightfully play in a new-found adventure amidst the splashing drops. The next morning is foggy and the\ explore the island listening to the sounds of a porpoise family, a neighbor's motorboat, and the splashes of the boat's wake on the nearby rocks. Venturing into the misty woods they are stunned by its silence. It is so quiet that they hear the insects in a dead tree trunk and nearby fiddleheads unfurling. But then the sky turns yellow, a hummingbird appears and the fog lifts majestically. At the height of the summer season the bay is filled with bright sailboats while children swim and dive off the rocks. When the tide is out their attention turns to building castles in the sand. An evening boat ride around the bay climaxes a day's activities. Summer is nearing its close and only the fishing boats are left. The winds begin to change and the trees reflect the coming autumn. Along with the changes comes anxiety for the safety of life and property. Excitement is heightened by the threatening danger of a hurricane. Boat moorings are checked, food and gasoline supplies are brought in to prepare for the coming storm. Then comes the pause of the sea at low water followed by a gentle wind and rain. Suddenly the wind and rain sharpen into gale force bringing the season's first hurricane. Safely inside their cabin the family reads, listens and watches. Suddenly a latch gives way and the wind and water are inside. After the water is 274 Educational Screen and Audiovisual Guide — May, 1962