Long journey

Long journey

An unusual and ambitious film deserving greater exposure is The Journey, a massive 14

.5J243>1

55DJ0>/

.5>2

55D> hour project lurking in the bowels of the National Library in Canberra.

Produced and directed by Peter Watkins, best known for his earlier film The War Game, the 1987 film explores the world arms race and its relation to world hunger, gender politics and the functioning of the mass media.

The film was produced in collaboration with local support groups in the US, Canada, Norway, Scotland, France, West Germany, Mozambique, Japan, Australia, Tahiti and Mexico. Survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Hamburg recall their experiences, and other ordinary people participate in scenes that evoke the threat of the Third World War.

The Journey is designed as an intensive learning experience, to be watched and discussed over a weekend or a week. Available on VHS videocassette, the film would make an excellent basis for a complete teaching unit (a study guide is available). The film is available to established and new clients (who must agree to observe the library's conditions of loan). For more information, phone the Film and Video Lending Collection of the National Library (06) 262 1361.

From GLW issue 60