FILM LIBRARY

Europe / Africa Collection

ON SEVEN HILLS

The history and antiquities of Rome in the imposing statuary of the city is suddenly shattered by the cacophony of traffic and fuel emissions. Cars rule while pedestrians flee. Although afflicted with grave pollution and environmental problems, Rome and its warm and gregarious citizens present a socially rich, engaging and vital city. An un-narrated observation of life Rome (series) (1973, 27 mins)

LE VILLAGE, UN VILLAGE

A village in France: le Marie, le Monument aux Morts from two World Wars and the Resistance, an age old Norman church. The people who live there: le facteur, Monsieur le Maire, Monsieur le Curé. Daily events: spring water for la boulangerie, the lunchtime hush attributed to the enduring importance of food. Weekly events: Mass on Sunday, petanque. Annual events: la Fête. Special occasions: le mariage of the local mechanic to Hélène from the neighbouring village. Combine all of these elements and you have Le Village, population 700. It could be one of many, Un Village. An un-narrated observation of life in the small village of Ste. Alvère in the Dordogne, France. (series). (1978, 26 mins)

American Film Festival: Blue Ribbon Award.
Modern Language Festival, USA: Silver Award.
Brussels Film Festival (Education Category): First Prize.
Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Czechoslovakia: First Prize.
Selected by French Government for use in Embassies worldwide and Ministere de Loisir et Culture as representation of French culture.

VILLAGE OF THE RAIN FOREST, NIGERIA

Through the eyes of children in one small village of Benin State in this vast oil rich nation, life is full. Village people are the staple of Africa. But the riches that have transformed the cities must be harnessed to the betterment of rural life. (1979)

SYMI 1976

A new DVD that combines our 1975 film Ten Times Empty with extra images and sounds of Symi, an idyllic small Aegean island that was facing change in the mid 1970s. It's 1976 and the barren, sundrenched Greek island of Symi has two resources: the surrounding sea and the legacy of a richer past. Life centres on the small township set around a deep natural harbour where the cafes are filled only with men.

An old Greek proverb says, "The plate of a fisherman is ten times empty and one time full". The contemporary implications of this bitter statement are seen through the eyes of 12 year old Vassilis and his family, whose lives as fishermen have become increasingly difficult.

Modern Language Festival, USA: Silver Award (Ten Times Empty)

Watch preview in Quicktime

BILL, PEGGY, ROYAL AND FRIENDS

London is a city which has time for the horse. Working horses delivering beer to the pubs, mail to the Royal Household, scrap metal to the breakers yards. Horses at their most elegant accompanying royalty for the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebration. Horses resting in their own retirement home. Horses at attention for their annual Church service in Hyde Park. The roles of Bill, Peggy, Royal and friends vividly bring this great city alive in a cavalcade from cabbages to kings. (1977, 25 mins)