At the end of WW2, (some of the participants are in military uniforms) support for Dutch colonists, battling the Indonesian Independence movement, was a divisive issue and many Australian Unions declared black Dutch ships in Australian ports, which were claimed to be carrying armaments and troops to the Dutch.

The film show Indonesians, who had been living in Australia during the Japanese occupation, concerts and trade union support and a meeting address by union leader Jim Healey.

By this time, Ivens was a practiced hand and the film has a professionalism missing from the subsequent Waterside Workers Film Unit productions, made in emulation of his style by local crews. Chasing the break-away ship, manned by an Indian crew, with a launch of loud hailer protesters is a passable action high light.

Already, Peter Finch was a serious contender and his reading of the commentary sets a bench mark for these.

In the Cold War, participation in this venture was to prove an embarrassment to a number of the makers.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

Commissioned by the Dutch to film Indonesia's liberation from Japan, but realizing the colonists would not let Indonesians govern themselves, Ivens went rogue, filming part in secret, to make a document demanding freedom for the people.

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Indonesia Calling

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