"A great gift to our nation..." Brendan Nelson, Director Australian War Memorial
"This film is oral history at it's best..." Paul Kiem, History Teachers Association NSW
“Helps younger generations understand the war with true meaning and depth” Marianne, Year 10 student
DVD documentary (65 minutes) + special features
Written and directed by Larry McGrath
Narrated by Neil Murray
Original music score by Jon Schofield
Available from: History Teacher's Association NSW
Review: This is a wonderful documentary. Featuring eight Second World War veterans, it traces their personal experiences of war. Using a technique that interweaves interviews with archival material, it creates an extraordinarily effective collage of war and Australian social history. While the focus is on Australia at war, it is as much about the individuals and what they reveal about the attitudes and experiences of ‘the generation passing into history’. As such, this documentary is a great complement to existing material that tends to deal with battle front chronologies.
The interviewees – ranging from an infantry soldier to an army chaplain to a Red Cross nurse – are a stunning group and their reflections make for powerful
viewing. Their understated style contributes to the slow pace in the early
stages and the constant moving from one to the other runs the risk of
fragmentation. Nevertheless, as the personalities emerge, the layers of
testimony accumulate and the atmosphere builds, it is impossible not be to drawn into the eight different lives. By the end, most viewers, including hard-bitten Year 10 students, will struggle not to be in tears. For, quite apart from its
historical value, this documentary offers a bridge between generations.
The interviews are organised into four sections: War on the Horizon, War on
Australia’s Doorstep, Prisoners of War and Aftermath & Farewell. There are
nine special features on topics such as the Atom Bomb and Bringing Home the
POWs. As already suggested, the aim has not been to present a comprehensive
overview of Australia’s wartime history. Instead, there is the opportunity for
students to engage with individuals in a way that may build understanding at a deeper level. In terms of Australian social history, this film is an example of
oral history at its best. As a resource for those focusing on Australia’s
military history, it would add significant meaning to many aspects of a
classroom survey. Moreover, the subject matter suggests all sorts of
possibilities for student research.
This resource is highly recommended for the Stage 5 course in NSW. Thinking national curriculum, it should be equally relevant wherever Australian history is being taught.
Paul Kiem - History Teacher's Association of NSW
Written and directed by Larry McGrath
Narrated by Neil Murray
Original music score by Jon Schofield
Available from: History Teacher's Association NSW
Review: This is a wonderful documentary. Featuring eight Second World War veterans, it traces their personal experiences of war. Using a technique that interweaves interviews with archival material, it creates an extraordinarily effective collage of war and Australian social history. While the focus is on Australia at war, it is as much about the individuals and what they reveal about the attitudes and experiences of ‘the generation passing into history’. As such, this documentary is a great complement to existing material that tends to deal with battle front chronologies.
The interviewees – ranging from an infantry soldier to an army chaplain to a Red Cross nurse – are a stunning group and their reflections make for powerful
viewing. Their understated style contributes to the slow pace in the early
stages and the constant moving from one to the other runs the risk of
fragmentation. Nevertheless, as the personalities emerge, the layers of
testimony accumulate and the atmosphere builds, it is impossible not be to drawn into the eight different lives. By the end, most viewers, including hard-bitten Year 10 students, will struggle not to be in tears. For, quite apart from its
historical value, this documentary offers a bridge between generations.
The interviews are organised into four sections: War on the Horizon, War on
Australia’s Doorstep, Prisoners of War and Aftermath & Farewell. There are
nine special features on topics such as the Atom Bomb and Bringing Home the
POWs. As already suggested, the aim has not been to present a comprehensive
overview of Australia’s wartime history. Instead, there is the opportunity for
students to engage with individuals in a way that may build understanding at a deeper level. In terms of Australian social history, this film is an example of
oral history at its best. As a resource for those focusing on Australia’s
military history, it would add significant meaning to many aspects of a
classroom survey. Moreover, the subject matter suggests all sorts of
possibilities for student research.
This resource is highly recommended for the Stage 5 course in NSW. Thinking national curriculum, it should be equally relevant wherever Australian history is being taught.
Paul Kiem - History Teacher's Association of NSW
