Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 4. April 7th, 1948

German

German

"Kameradschaft" is a German film, made, believe it or not, as long ago as 1931, and produced by N. Pabst. It is so good in its own way that I cannot help comparing it with a Greek tragedy, because it has little that is superfluous and all the incidents add to the total effect. It shows man, struggling not with other men, nor against his Gods, but with the forces of nature he is trying to control. And this elemental conflict is portrayed so sternly, so imaginatively, and so truthfully that the film, although it is in many way a narrative only, does not become tedious. There is no ornamentation, no sub-plot, and the characters have a sharpness and urgency common to us all when overtaken by a great disaster. But although "Kameradschaft" is about a mine disaster and how a German rescue unit helped trapped French miners, it does I think ask us the question, "Why does it need something as terrible as this to show us the real meaning of the phrase, 'the brotherhood of man'?" This film has faith in humanity, not so common a thing nowadays, and faith in the possibility of international understanding. It is a film to see, not only because of its theme, but also because of its occasionally brilliant photography, and sparing but most effective use of sound. It will be shown again later in the month by the Wellington Film Society at the Public Library Concert Hall.