A film seminar is being held at Victoria University from Wednesday, Sept. 4 to Saturday, Sept. 7. Organised by the New Zealand Students' Arts Council in conjunction with the Sydney Filmmaker's Co-op, the seminar is intended to encourage the use of film as a political medium. The films will not comprise the whole activity of the seminar but will be part of a programme of political education, with lectures, seminars and workshops. The films will begin each day at 8pm in the Memorial Theatre.

Day 1

The subject for the first day (Sept. 4) is Political Documentary. The films to be shown are Bruce Petty's "Australian History", R. Whittaker's "China—the Red Sons", and "Millhouse" by Emile De Antonio.

The second of these, "China—the Red Sons", is a 50 minute documentary shot inside China during the Cultural Revolution which features interviews with Chinese students and people, in the streets.

The timing of its showing is opportune. Recently an NZUSA delegation returned from a visit to China. On Thursday, five members of this delegation will speak at the forum in the lounge and smoking room, from 12—2pm, and will provide an updated account of events in China.

"Millhouse" by Emile De Antonio, is a pre-Watergate film, described as "a devastating portrait of the President, a savagely comic indictment of Nixon".

Nixon's political career, before his election to the Presidency is depicted and lampooned.

In a review of the film in "The Australian", in July 1973, Mike Harris concluded: "The quality is patchy because of the age of much of the material. Nonetheless, Millhouse is an important historical appraisal—admittedly a biased one—of this important man. His own public relations budget is estimated at 50 times the budget of this film. Who said a mouse can't rape an elephant?"

Day 2

"Experimental and Expanded Cinema" is the title of the second day of the seminar, and the films include—

"Four Possible Variations—a documentary of cracker absorbency". Dave McCullough (four minutes).

"Bolero"—Albie Tomas (14 minutes). An experiment in visual perception, with music providing the structure of the film.

"Motion Analysis—Mood Evolution"—David Lourie (30 minutes). This film emphasises the essential role of movies, in recording aspects of life in a complex society.

"Dark"—Paul Winkler (18 minutes). About the "coming out" of the Australian aborigines—from "dream time" to "action time".

"Halfcast"—Steve Knapman (14 minutes).

"Futurist Europe"—Pier Farri (17 minutes). Evoking the first avant-garde film movement in history: futurism.

"Teleogical Telecast from Spaceship Earth"—Michael Glasheen (20 minutes). This is an interview with Buckminster Fuller, with images derived from his theory of the universe.

Day 3

Two anthropology films will be shown on the third day (Sept 6).

The first is called "Pikizjaa" by Les Mclaren and Steve Macmillan (27 minutes). It was filmed at lombi village, population 400, in the southern highlands of Papua-New Guinea. The first half of the film documents a preparatory possum feast. The second half shows normal village life of the lombi people. Commentary has been minimised to a few explanatory comments by a young boy.

The second film is "Tidikawa and Friends" by Jef and Su Doring (82 minutes). This unique documentary provides the only existing record of the Bedamini, living in the remote isolation of Great Papuan Plateau rainforest. The film portrays vivid, dramatic events in these peoples lives, but, more importantly, perhaps it recreates the tempo and tenor of daily life.

A follow-up seminar will take place in the lounge and smoking room on Monday, Sept 9 from 12-2pm. Prof Pouwer and other Anthropology staff are conducting the seminar. It will centre around Papua-New Guinea.

Day 4

Seminars on the feminist films will be held on Saturday at 8pm in the theatre. There is going to be a seminar from 12—2pm in the lounge and smoking room conducted by the university feminists.

The films to be shown are:

"The Stripper"—Siew Ha Beh (three minutes). Expresses a feminist view of strippers.

"Home"—Women's Film Group (17 minutes). Documentary with re-enactment as two women who spent their childhood in the "homes" of the child welfare system reveal what happens to young women in these prisons.

Deprived of all rights to education, freedom, or love, the girls who then rebel are sent through a system of increasingly punitive gaols, ultimately emerging with only one prospect for survival—prostitution. This film is part of a campaign to abolish the "homes"

"Still Life"—Jeni Thornley.

"Film for Discussion"—Martha Kay, (24 minutes). A dramatic documentary in which the group which made the film went through some the situations and attitudes which have effected us.

"Gretel"—Gillian Armstrong.

"Reflections"—Bev Clarke (four minutes). A visual poem on a stream and sunlight.

"Women in a House"—Sue Ford (15 minutes).

"Leonie's Film"—"Leonie Crennan (10 minutes). A deeply felt personal film about a strained relationship.

"Take 5"—Carole Kostarzioh Dagmar.

"The Breadmaker"—Rosalind Gillespie (10 minutes). A women film-maker's sense of humour connects the simple pleasures of food, sex and shape.