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SPILT POPCORN - Anzac memories |
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Andrew Denton 4.5/5 stars “The stories of those who fought and died here live on.” This statement is made very early in, and sums up the sentiment of Andrew Denton’s documentary Gallipoli: Brothers in Arms. Shot at Gallipoli during Anzac Day amid the thousands of people who make the annual pilgrimage there, Denton sought out some of the Australians present to find out what inspired them to make the long journey, and what the peninsula now means to them. Interviewing a diverse range of people including young schoolchildren, backpackers, historians and even some descendants of original Anzacs, many now in their later years, Denton has taken a good cross-section of the people there with interesting results. Several of these interviews stand out. Especially with those who lost family during the campaign and are now visiting the graves of those long dead – perhaps for the first time for their families. Adding greatly to some of these interviews is the use of original letters sent by the soldiers back to their families that tell harrowing tales of what it was like to storm the beaches on that first day, or of further attacks during the eight-month campaign. Lone Pine, Quinn’s Post and many other battles are described. Family stories such as the soldier who went to Gallipoli to avenge his brother killed there are told, too. In one letter, an Australian soldier describes what it was like to be badly wounded and lying in no-man’s land for three days while the battle raged around him before he managed to crawl back to the Australian trenches. Denton also explores what Gallipoli means from the Turkish people’s perspective. His interview with a Turkish historian tells equally sad tales of the Turks who defended their homeland and suffered much heavier casualties than the Australians, New Zealanders, English and French, with 2000 killed on the first day alone. Like many Australians, Denton’s perspective on Gallipoli has more anger than sadness at the waste of human life. Aside from the many graveyards along the peninsula, there are more stark reminders of this waste, which Denton discovers as he walks through a recently- ploughed field and finds human bones and a Turkish grenade lying exposed. The documentary concludes with a brief exploration of what Gallipoli means to the Australian psyche and how the traditional Dawn Service evolved from a spontaneous act by some ex-servicemen in 1928 to become the national event attracting thousands of people. DVD giveaway AIR FORCE is giving away three copies of Gallipoli: Brothers In Arms. To enter, email your postal address to simone.liebelt@defence.gov.au with Gallipoli Giveaway in the subject line. One entry per person. Open to all readers. Winners published in the June 14 edition. Competition winners Congratulations to the following winners of the AIR FORCE Breach movie pass giveaway from the May 17 edition. SGT Patrick Lee, OFFCDT Stephen Gibbons, LAC Felix Ho, FLTLT Lyndon Ong, Mrs Christine Kelly, Ms Josie Badgery, CPL Kerrie-Anne Hankin, Mr David Hueston, AIRCDRE Simon Harvey, WGCDR Tony McDonald, Mr Garry Robinson, FLTLT Ian Pak, Mr Oman Abbott, PLTOFF Nerine Eaton, OFFCDT Corey Siebel, LAC Paul Davis, Miss Sonia Comfort, SGT Warren Davey, FSGT Andrew Robinson, Mr David Burgess, Mr Rick Hollingdrake, LAC Daniel Verwoert, FLTLT John Cotterell, Mrs Robyn Lacey and FLTLT Terrence Lewis. |
