International Review of Educational Cinematography (Jan-Dec 1931)

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Documentary films FORI Ufa has produced a very interesting documentary film. The scene is Africa, the continent of jungles, deserts and snares which has always attracted explorers, geographers and those who love the unknown. This picture claims the attention of all who follow cinematography closely, not only because the U.F.A. has specialized in this kind of films, but for its exceptional meterage. Documentary films have always been given scant recognition and never went beyond the purpose of giving the public a few cultural elements. They were usually very short and did not constitute a complete program, but were shown in addition to the principal film. Documentary films, with or without theatrical scenes or dramatic elements woven in, are now being shown as central attractions. Their character was once merely educational, but now they tend to become an end in themselves. The International Review has always maintained that a new direction should be set to motion picture production and that the public should have the opportunity of seeing educational films that at the same time offer enjoyment; in other words the cinema should show scenes and aspects of life which add to our knowledge instead of dramatic variations upon a very few subjects which may be found with monotonous regularity in almost every play. This film of the U.F.A. is therefore a step in the right direction, it is a documentary film with dramatic elements. Pori is the native name of the vast African plain, thinly sown with sunburnt shrubs and inhabited by tribes that Europeans have not yet civilized nor exterminated. A family of emigrants has established itself there. While the white children play with their black companion Kibo, herds of animals may be seen raising huge clouds of dust on the horizon, zebras and gnus chiefly. Crested cranes, flamingoes and pelicans occupy the adjacent lake and flocks of wild birds, like clouds, darken the sky. A hippopotamus comes slowly out of the water and looks about, a giraffe moves its long and ridiculous neck and a rhinoceros decides to abandon the place, probably resenting the presence of the white intruders. But from among the branches of a distant tree human eyes have observed the small white settlement and before long news reaches the Kraal of their presence. The natives decide to resist this invasion of their natural boundaries but the chief of the Massai tribe intervenes; he has already had experience of white men and knows their strength and .fears thier deadly long-distance rifles. So a new decision is taken; they will approach the strangers and treat them as friends until they learn their purpose. They are soon persuaded that the white people mean no harm to them and friendship springs up between them. The negroes give the white valuable hints about hunting the numerous varieties of animals which live on the plain; African antelopes with long dangerous horns which are their only protection against lions and tigers, small cockatoos so difficult to be hunted, wild goats, leopards that wait for hours for their unsuspecting prey. Before dark every evening they all crowd towards the water-hole. One of the herd, the strongest male, hastens ahead to inspect and to warn the others if any of their enemies are in sight. Sometimes a gnu which has fallen behind